Archive of Our Own

“Just a little more ‘til it’s over.”

He thinks as he lay staring at the ceiling. He’s trying, but sleep just won’t come, not with all that is going on his mind right now. He checks the clock on the nightstand,1:48 AM. It’s getting later; why not fix himself a snack if he’s not going to sleep anyways.

He stands up from his bed, still in his day clothes, he couldn’t care less about those things now, and walks towards the sink and splashes some water on his face washing his eyes. He looks in the mirror and notices slight dark circles around his eyes, and scoffs, while touching one of the slits that rest under his eyes.

He is no more looking in the mirror now; his eyes now focused (or rather unfocused) somewhere at the edge of the sink. It stays like that for a while. He snaps back, takes a towel and pats his face dry. He puts on his slippers and walks towards the door stopping to look at the time again,1:52 AM.

 Time was weird. These days, he wanted it to pass and stand still at the same time.

He has to move. He swings the door open and finds the reason for his dilemma standing in the doorway, Megumi Fushiguro.

“Hey! I’m sorry, did you knock? I didn’t hear it.” He says with a small smile tugging on his lips.

 “No, I-Uh… I heard some noise, just came to check if everything was alright.” Megumi said while scratching the back of his neck, not meeting his gaze with Yuuji’s out of habit.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just couldn’t sleep so. I was just going to the kitchen. If you want, I’ll make us something.”

“Yeah, sure.” The reply came in the blink of an eye.

“Cool.”

Megumi is sitting at the table with his knees pressed to his chest, while he watches Yuuji boil water and fry an egg for the ramen. He stays quiet, not like usual though. He has been this quiet ever since the news arrived a month ago: the last two of Sukuna's fingers had been recovered. He still remembers that day. The way he got petrified upon hearing the news, knowing what was coming next. The chill that spread in his body as he heard Yuuji talking to Gojo in his office about it.

“But Yuuji-kun-…” Gojo-sensei was cut out by Yuuji,

“It’s okay, Sensei. We knew that this would happen one day. I chose it the day I came to the school. I have been prepared for it ever since.” He knew he was not.

“NO. It’s NOT okay”, Gojo-sensei snapped “It doesn’t have to be this way, we can figure something out.”

“Yes, we can. But this is what I want. This is my destiny.” Yuuji avoided meeting Gojo-sensei’s gaze, even though his sensei was wearing a blindfold. Because he knew, if he looked up, he’d end up crying.

“You can choose to live, Yuuji-kun. You can choose to live with us. You can choose us. Everyone. You can choose yourself.”

“I am. This is for the best.”

“No, you’re not. Why, why wouldn’t you choose yourself? you are much more than just Sukuna’s vessel deemed to die for those Old Geezers’ fear’s sake. If you’re worried about them, then I’ll just end them right now-” He could sense the anger growing with those words as Gojo-sensei proceeded to walk towards the door when suddenly, he was called out by Yuuji.

“SENSEI.”

Yuuji wasn’t shouting, but it was enough to make Gojo-sensei stop.

When he turned around, Yuuji was already looking at him.

His eyes were wet, a small smile pulling at his lips.

“Please,” he said, voice rough. “It’s okay.”

A tear slipped down Gojo’s cheek.

He couldn’t take it.

He crossed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around the kid, who hugged him just tighter.

“Okay, but it doesn’t have to happen tomorrow.”

Yuuji nodded with his face buried in Gojo-sensei’s chest.

“Not even next week or whatever, you have to stay a bit longer. You’ll do that, wouldn’t you, Yuji-kun?”

He nodded again.

Gojo-sensei removed his blindfold and rested his chin on top of Yuuji's head.

Neither of them let go for a long time.

Outside the office, Megumi looked down at the floor.

A single tear fell from his eye, and landed near his shoe.

He stared at it for a moment before wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

“You know,” Gojo-sensei scoffed, half laughing, half crying.

“You haven’t grown any taller since the day we met.”

Yuuji huffed a laugh through his runny nose.

“Yes, I have. A little.”

Which made them both chuckle.

They pulled apart and Gojo tried ruffling the kid’s hair. Yuuji let him before shoving his hand away with a weak smile.

Megumi stares at the spot near his shoe for a moment longer before pushing the door open.

All of that, Megumi can never forget. He remembers what he heard through the walls, and what happened after he stepped into the room; He and Gojo had to argue Yuuji to delay the execution, but Yuuji wouldn’t budge. It is with just so much insisting they had to do to get Yuuji to agree to ‘live’ for another month. That was the end of it, they knew it, nothing more will get through Yuuji. So they just had to accept it, reluctantly. But they knew better to ask for more.

The clink of a bowl against the table snapped Megumi out of his thoughts. The scent of ginger reached him first. When he looked down, he found a fried egg sitting atop the ramen, sunny-side up with the yolk still soft.

Exactly how he liked it.

For some time, they eat in silence until Megumi breaks it.

“This ramen is really good.”

“Oh. Thanks. I put some chilli in it.” Yuuji says with the same sweet smile he always has.

Megumi just hums in acknowledgement.

“You know it’s super easy to make. I’ll write you a recipe. That way you can make it whenever you want.”

“…Yeah, like when you’re gone.”

Yuuji’s chopsticks go still.

There is a moment, neither of them speaks.

“Yeah.” Yuuji says quietly.

Megumi keeps his eyes fixed on his bowl.

“I wish it was easy.” He finally speaks up.

“I wish so too.”

“Then why?”

“You know why.”

The whole conversation goes quietly, both trying not to make things worse.

“No, I don’t. And I still don’t understand.” Yuuji can feel the hurt in Megumi’s voice. If only he could do something to make it better. He can’t.

“Because it is the right thing to do.”

“Who says?”

“I do.”

Megumi’s gaze softens, accepting defeat.

“You know you’re an idiot. You can’t be trusted with rational decisions.”

The faint smile on his lips would have gone unnoticed if you didn’t know him.

Yuuji lets out a small laugh.

“Yeah, you remind me every day.”

Yuuji looks down at his bowl before continuing.

“Still…”

Megumi looks up.

“You’ll need to eat.” Yuuji finishes.

“That’s not the point.”

“I know.”

Yuuji spent last couple of days mostly hanging with his beloved friends, Megumi, Nobara, and Gojo-sensei, with their senpais joining them now and then.

It wasn’t easy for any of them to pretend that they were having fun- that all of it is just another casual hang-out, that everything was normal. Like the pink haired boy sitting among them wasn’t a dead man, whom they will not see again after…

Nobara was her same savage self, not acting polite like their senpais; calling him Asshole, and bastard, and every other insult she could come up with at times; but there was no bite to any of those words, her tone was surprisingly gentle. Yuuji noticed that, obviously, and smiled at every insult she would throw at him. He knew she was also hurt, and respected her for not trying to put up the act, not pitying him. She might be the only one to do so, he assumes, and it reassures him somehow. Even Megumi didn’t oppose anything Yuuji proposed. It sure was the hardest for him. He had been spending his nights staying awake, his restlessness wasn’t hidden from Yuuji.

Whenever Megumi was alone, he’d lay awake in his bed; thinking, imagining things, what-ifs, or trying to come up with something that might change Yuuji’s mind. He knew better, still he couldn’t help but wonder.

Maybe I should just tell him.

He thinks while staring at nothing in particular. His room is dark, as always. He rubs his palm over his face, hoping it’ll resolve his dilemma. It doesn’t.

Maybe I should just tell him.

But he probably doesn’t feel the same.

Maybe I should.

Maybe that’ll change his mind.

No, he won’t.

Why does he have to be so damn stubborn.

He brings his hands up to mess with his hair, like that will clear his mind.

Ugh. Why is this so complicated.

He’d always been straightforward. Then why couldn’t he do it now? He’s not used to feeling like this. Not used to being so in love with the boy whose death certificate has been signed ever since the day they stepped into each other’s lives. Damn, he’s not used to being in love. Yes, that was it; he was in love with the sweetest boy on the planet. So much love he has for the idiot, his idiot. He doesn’t remember the exact moment, or day, that it happened; maybe it happened gradually.

Maybe he fell in love the moment he saw him on the terrace of that school.

You’re being a coward.

Just tell him.

What’s the worst that could happen.

I can’t. I mustn’t.

Not NOW, not like this.

No, this is bad, that’s what it is. ‘Bad’.

He probably shouldn’t be thinking about this, or he might make a decision that he’ll regret.

He needs to sleep.

He suddenly sits up, yanking his blanket away; he goes to the sink, splashes his face, before drinking some water, and laying in his bed again. He shifts a few times, still not comfortable. Tired, he picks up his headphones and puts on some fast indie-rock, sets the volume slightly above the recommended level; he doesn’t care right now, he just wants to tune out his thoughts.

It was just like any of the gatherings the students were having, as an attempt to make Yuuji feel comfortable. Megumi would zone out every now and then in between conversations; whenever he was not trying to steal a glance, or trying to establish ‘unintentional’ eye contacts with his best friend. The tension is undeniable, everybody seems to be oblivious to it, except Gojo-sensei.

Gojo-sensei, who had been around a lot more than usual as he refused to accept any missions to spend as much time possible with his still-alive student, noticed all of whatever that was going on.

Gojo-sensei looked over at Megumi. And signalled him to come with him as he precedes toward the door. He nods and follows. The door closes after them with a small thud.

“What is it?” Megumi says as they walk down the hallway.

“Nothing. Just walk with me for a bit.”

Megumi hums in response as he follows Gojo-sensei outside of the building.

They pace along the pavements around the campus in silence. The campus is quiet, all trainings dismissed at the hour. The sun has starting to sink toward the horizon. However, there is still time until sunset. They stop at a pond, water as clear as glass, faintly reflecting the bridge that is built over it. Koi fish swim quietly, with occasional water splashes that look like molten gold. It’s beautiful. Megumi would love to indulge in the sight if his mind weren’t preoccupied otherwise.

A withered leaf falls from the tree above them; the taller man’s gaze follows its movement as it reaches the ground. Megumi watches as the man crouches down in a squat and picks it up. Staying in the same position, he spins the leaf by its stem as he looks at it through his blindfold, as if he were studying it.

“Looks like autumn is starting to catch up, huh.” The man scoffs, “Funny, how people think the tree is dying.”

Megumi looks up at that, when the man continues.

“…it’s just letting go what it can’t keep.”

Why? Megumi wonders.

“Doesn’t mean it can’t be cherished while it is still there.”

…

“I… I don’t want him to die.” Megumi finally says after a while.

There is a moment before any of them speaks.

“Me neither…kiddo. That’s not our decision to make. But we can still make sure he knows how much he’s loved.”

The word, Loved, hearing it makes Megumi’s ears flush. Gojo notices and smirks.

“You know, you’re not really sneaky.” He teases.

“…What?”

“Nothing. Just don’t wait for too long. Sometimes it’s better to say things out loud.”

To which Megumi doesn’t have an answer to. He goes still.

“Relax.” Gojo throws his hands in air, his usual playful self, at least that’s what he wants to show.

Does he know?

He knows.

How? How does he know?

Is it too obvious?

How long has he known this?

Yuuji waves off Megumi with a smile as they both enter their dorm room. They spent their whole day shopping with Nobara, mostly carrying the bags to be fair. She wanted to go to a new Thai restaurant, so they ended up returning late.

His smile faded the moment he closed the door.

“You’re a coward, Itadori.” She had said. “You’re just afraid of Sukuna taking over you, and that scares the shit out of you! Be a MAN!”

He runs his hand through his hair.

Oh, God.

He’s tired.

So tired.

He throws his jacket somewhere, and heads straight to the bathroom. He lets the water pour over his head as he closes his eyes shut, hoping it would help him think clearly.

She’s probably right. Maybe I am scared. What am I so scared of?

It hurts.

God, it hurts.

Tears start forming in his eyes. He lets them.

It hurts so much. I love them. So much. Fushiguro, Kugisaki, Gojo-sensei, all of them. They saved me, helped me, They’re my family. I don’t want to leave them. I want to live with them, too.

Their faces flash in his mind as he thinks about them. Cries about them. For them.

I am scared. So… scared. I’m not scared of Sukuna. No. I am scared he might hurt them.

I’m scared of dying.

I want to live, too.

A quiet sob leaves his mouth, but it’s loud enough to disturb the noise of the pouring water. Another. And another. Still thinking between the hiccups, his head hurts from how hard he is crying now.

Fushiguro.

I wish I could stay with him a little longer. I wish I could spend time with him. More, I want more time. But I can’t. Not until Sukuna is there. I wish there was another way, I wish. I wish I could tell him, tell him just how much in love I am with him. I can’t. Not now, not anymore. I don’t want to hurt him like that.

I can’t curse him like that.

It’s all my fault. Why did I get closer to him. It’s my fault for letting him get attached to me. He’ll get hurt because of that. Because of me.

Why, why, WHY? Only If I didn’t… NO. No, I don’t regret it the slightest bit. I swallowed the damn finger to help Fushiguro, and damn I’d do it again even if it meant selling my soul.

At least I’ll be fulfilling grandpa’s wish. It was the right thing to do, wasn’t it? To save as many people as I can, even if it was just one. That way when I die, I wouldn’t be alone, right? I’d die surrounded by people I love, at least. I won’t be dying alone.

“Death.”

What after death? What? Will I be able to see grandpa again? I want to see him. Oh, God. But I don’t want to leave. Not yet.

Wish I had more time. More time. More. I wish I could live a longer life.

Wish I could have a longer life.

Maybe next time.

He tries to make peace with the fact. But there’s no going back. He knows it.

Maybe next time. Maybe in the next life. Maybe I’ll get more time. Maybe the universe will be kinder next time.

He’s never believed any of this stuff before, so why now? WHY does he want to believe it now. Because it gives hope. Yeah, hope. That’s what’ll keep him together for now. He needs to stay strong, for everyone.

Next time. Maybe.

Maybe.

Maybe.

Maybe…

By the time he gets out of the shower he’s done crying, that’s what he thinks.

He lays on bed, arms spread out at his sides, when he hears a knock on his door.

“Come in.” he says lazily.

Gojo-sensei steps inside, holding a paper bag.

“You hungry?” He chirps with the same wide grin he always has; although he is not wearing his uniform. He’s dressed more casually, a pale blue button-up shirt, untucked. His rectangular sunglasses rest on the bridge of his nose.

“No, thanks. I already ate.”

“Even better. Good thing I only brought sweets.”

He took the chair nearby. Digging through the paper bag, he pulled out a box of mochi before tossing the bag onto the bed beside Yuuji. He flipped the lid open and held it out.

"Go on."

Yuuji picks a piece and pops it in his mouth, so does Gojo-sensei.

Gojo-sensei can see that his student is being awfully quiet.

“I thought you liked the strawberry ones.”

“Huh? Oh yeah, I like them.”

“Then what’s with the long face?”

“…What?”

“You’ve been staring at It.”

“Oh.”

“You’re really bad at hiding things.”

“Guess I’m not that good.” He said flatly.

“You’ve been pretending for a while now.”

Yuuji tilts his head at that.

“No need for that here.”

He looks back at the sweet in his hand.

“…I’m trying. I can’t.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want you guys to worry.”

Gojo-sensei quietly listens to him.

“I’m scared, Sensei. I’m so scared. I don’t want to die. But it won’t change my mind.”

“I know.”

“Does that make me selfish?”

“No.” he says, gently putting his hand on Yuuji’s shoulder, that makes Yuuji relax a little.

“… I’ve been thinking. What if things were different?

… if I weren’t Sukuna’s vessel, do you think I’d have some more time?”

“…Yeah.” Gojo-sensei says after a while.

“But I’m grateful, you know. I got to meet wonderful people. At least I’m not alone anymore. I’ll be surrounded by the people I love when I go. Someone will remember me after I’m gone. In the end …I guess I got lucky.” His eyes are still wet, and there is a small but genuine smile tugging at his lips.    

“I’m just sorry.”

“For what?”

“That y’all will be sad because of me. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“You could never hurt us, Yuuji-kun.”

“But… will you be okay, sensei?”

 “I think so.”

“I hope they’ll be okay, too. I know it’ll not be easy for them. Kugisaki will cry when she feels like it and she’ll probably make peace with it first; she knows how to handle herself. But Fushiguro… he’s different than her.”

“Huh?”

“He’s a smart guy, but he’s just… too harsh on himself. He’ll probably go on blaming himself. And most likely to skip meals, he does that when he’s down.” He pauses for a moment. “Sensei…?”

“Hmm, Yuuji-kun?”

“Fushiguro… um… I’m worried about him.”

Gojo sensei raises one of his eyebrows.

“Will you please make sure that he takes care of himself?”

“Yes, I will, Yuuji-kun.”

“Also, I wanted to thank you.”

“For what?”

“For everything.”

At that, Gojo-sensei freezes.

“…You make it sound like goodbye.”

“It… kinda is?”

“Now, now…Don’t get all sentimental on me.” Gojo-sensei reaches over to ruffle Yuuji’s hair, which makes him laugh through his runny nose.

“…Do you think I’ll be okay, Sensei?”

“Yeah, I think you will.”

They don’t talk much after that. They finish the last of the mochi when Gojo-sensei stands up.

“Get some sleep, kiddo.”

“Tryin’ to get rid of me already?”

“Not a chance.”

The morning came anyway.

The way it always does. The autumn air Is cold as the dusk turns into dawn. Birds chirp in the distance. The wind makes the leaves rattle as it moves between them, while they bathe in the light that makes them shine. It’s unfairly beautiful, contradictory to what awaits Yuuji. Nature doesn’t care. It does what it has done for ages. But it’s gorgeous and painfully radiating. Maybe it’s trying to make up for the light that’ll be leaving this world later today.

Yuuji looks at the view from the open Shoji of the kitchen while he slowly sips on his coffee. He breathes in the cool air, feeling the nature to his heart's content. Everyone is silently having their breakfast, since all of the four spent the night awake talking and laughing like they were making up for all the time they won’t have together. It surely hurts Yuuji, but he’s glad that his friends were there on his last night.

“This coffee sucks!” Nobara snaps suddenly, which makes everyone flinch.

“Hmm, what’s wrong with it?” Yuuji asks, investigating his own cup.

“This coffee sucks. You made it right?”

“Yeah...”

“You should’ve used boiling water, Or just boiled it a little more.”

Just a little more.

“Sorry, I’ll remember next…” His words trail off.

Megumi and Gojo-sensei look up at him, but no one can bring themselves to say anything.

The breakfast is quiet afterwards. And no one bothers to put the dishes in the sink.

“Let’s go for a walk.” Yuuji announces.

They walk around the familiar campus, almost automatically. Apart from replying to Yuuji while he goes on about how beautiful the atmosphere is, they all stay silent.

“And you know that tree, is one of the…” Yuuji continues his rambling.

“SHUT UP!!” Nobara cut him off.

The three of them now looking at her.

“Just stop it. Itadori. How can you keep pretending that all of this is normal, like everything is fine?” Tears start forming in her eyes as she brings her eyebrows together.

“Kugisaki…” Yuuji says gently.

“Don’t.”

She jumps and hugs him burying her face in his neck. He wraps his arms around her.

“Just don’t. I can’t take it anymore. I tried pretending I was fine, that I don’t care as much. I can’t, …not anymore.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Shut up asshole.”

“Okay.” He lets out a sheepish laugh in her hair.

“You’re such a dumbass. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know, I know.”

“I hate you.”

“Enough to not say goodbye?”

She pulls away just enough to look at him.

Then punches him straight in the gut.

“I hate you.” She screamed hiding her face from the rest as she fled towards the building.

“Kugisaki…” Yuuji extends his arm, when Gojo-sensei’s hand is put on his shoulder.

“I’ll go talk to her.”

He squeezes Yuuji’s shoulder one last time before turning away. He wants to do something to prevent this. Something to make sure his students stay safe and happy and kids. He feels so helpless. For now, he can just give Yuuji some more time to spend with his friends. So he left.

He wanted to give him as much time as possible. Hell, he wanted to give him a lifetime.

Before Yuuji could say anything, he is gone. Silence settles over the path.

Now, only two of them remain.

Yuuji is still looking in the direction the two went, when Megumi interrupts him.

“Hey, come on.” Megumi says signalling to the path ahead of them.

They find a spot beneath a tree and sit down, surrounded by fallen leaves. It's warm against the cool breeze that kiss their cheeks every now and then.

“So…, this is it, huh?” Megumi speaks up.

“Huh?”

“Is this… goodbye?” saying the word out loud makes something turn in his stomach.

“…I guess it is.”

“It doesn’t have to be, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. But it doesn’t change the fact.”

“Seriously??” Megumi snaps.

Yuuji doesn’t have an answer.

“Why do you have to be so… damn… stubborn.” He runs his hand through his hair. “That’s why I never told you what I wanted to, cause you’re always…you.”

“Didn’t tell me what?”

“Why do I always forget you’re this stupid?” he rubs his face with his palms, trying to hide how blushed his cheeks are right now.

“Fushiguro! What didn’t you tell me?” Yuuji shakes him by his shoulder.

“I’m… I’m in love with you.”

“What?” Yuuji’s face goes pale, before getting red.

“Yes, dumbass.”

“Then, then… why didn’t you tell me?” He says while he tugs on his hair.

“Because, I knew there won’t be enough time.” Megumi looks at the ground.

“Seriously? I thought I was the idiot here.”

“You still are.” Megumi scoffs “What you’re doing is not very clever.”

“Yeah, I’m not exactly a genius. But I figured not telling you would be best, but I guess there’s no

other choice.”

“What…?” Megumi blinks his eyes in surprise.

“I’m in love with you too, smart guy.”

Megumi takes a moment to process the words.

“You’re …in …love with me?”

“Oh my god. YES.”

“You… Idiot.”

“I thought… that…”

“What?”

“I thought that if I told you, then… when I’d be gone, you’ll be…” He’s cutoff by the other.

“Alone? Sad?”

“…yeah, that.”

“Then, don’t go.”

Yuuji just shakes his head.

“Stay, please.” He whispers, his palm presses to Yuuji’s cheek as he moves his thumb to brush away the tear in his eye.

“I… I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

“I can’t.”

“We’ll, we’ll go somewhere, …leave jujutsu society. Gojo-sensei can deal with the higher ups. But, please, Stay.”

“I want to. I really do. More than anything. But… it just can’t be. It’s… it’s dangerous. You know that more than anyone.”

“I just don’t want to lose you. I wanted to be with you, be able to love you.” He says, continuing the movement of his thumb. Yuuji leans in his touch.

“I know. Me too.”

“But…” before he could finish, Yuuji’s face is pressing into his neck as he hugs him. He flinches at the movement, then wraps his arms around Yuuji’s torso anyways.

It’s silent for a while, except for the muffled sound of Yuuji’s hiccups as he cries in Megumi’s embrace. He rubs Yuuji’s back in attempt to soothe him, trying to hold his own tears, but fails. Tears come anyway but he doesn’t cry.

Yuuji’s face is burning red when he finally lets go of him.

“You know…” He rubs his eyes aggressively, “I wonder…”

“Hmm?”

“That maybe, maybe there’ll be another chance.”

“Another chance?”

“Yeah…” He tries to laugh through his tears, “I know it’s funny, I’ve never believed in those things.”

“…why now?”

“Because I want to. It gives me hope.

…Because I don’t wanna die thinking that there is nothing after this. There has to be…” He looks at Megumi “…Right?”

He takes a deep breath wiping his tears away before he continues.

“So… I’ll wait for you, Megumi.” Barely a whisper.

Megumi’s heart skips a beat, and he feels something tingling inside of him. He takes Yuuji’s hand in his as he presses his forehead to Yuuji’s, and they close their eyes.

“Then I’ll come to you.”

“Just don’t rush.” Yuuji tries to laugh.

“Not making any promises.” He smiles a little, Yuuji doesn’t have to open his eyes to know that.

They stay there for a while, their hands intertwined with each other’s, mostly silent.

Yuuji takes a loud breath and suddenly stands up, which makes Megumi flinch. He knows what this means.

“So soon?”

“If I don’t do it now then… I don’t think I can ever bring myself to do it.”

Megumi stands and pulls him into one last embrace. He holds on just a second longer than he should before letting go. He turns away before Yuuji can see his face. If he looked any longer, he wasn't sure he'd ever let him leave.

He just stands there, watching as Yuuji trails off until he is no longer in sight.

it’s quiet.

Too quiet.

It’s gonna be this way from now on, huh?

Forever?!!

The thought spreads a chill down his spine and makes him grit his teeth. He forces his tears back.

He meets Gojo-sensei outside the building where the execution room is.

“You made it!” Gojo-sensei tries to tease, but his voice gives it away.

Yuuji knows he’s not happy right now, but it’s not like he can do anything about it so he decides to just go with it.

“Did I make you wait too long?” he smirks back at him.

“No, come on now, before I change my mind.”

“Yeah.”

“Come on.”

They walk through the passage that leads to the execution room.

“Why’s this passage so creepy?”

“We’re going somewhere the most powerful of curse users are killed. What did you expect?”

“Makes sense.” He shrugs in agreement.

“So… ready to leave us all behind.” Gojo-sensei pouts, half joking, half disappointed. He doesn’t bother to look at his student, but the kid knows him.

“You make it sound like I’m the bad guy.” He pouts back. Trying to make his sensei smile.

“Hey, I’m just stating the facts y’know.” He shots his arms up in the air, and lets out somewhat of a laugh, more genuine this time.

“Sensei…?” Yuuji finally speaks after a while.

“Yes…? Yuuji-kun.”

“I’m glad it’s you.”

That makes Gojo-sensei stop and he turns to face the kid.

“…why?”

“Cause I trust you.”

“I wish you didn’t have to.” He says turning away, his tone heavy.

They arrive at the room shortly after.

It’s the same as he remembers, dimly lit with lanterns with seals sticked to every wall, and some hanging from the ceiling. It’s freaky, even for a jujutsu sorcerer.

In the middle of the room, there’s a chair, with sealed ropes to restrain the executee.

Several people are already inside, dressed in dark ceremonial robes. Their faces are hidden beneath wide hats draped with thin veils. They sit in silence along the darker edge of the room. Yuuji can't make out any of their features. Not that he cares to.

They walk inside. A creep spreads in his body making the hair on his arms stand up.

Man, it really is creepy in here.

“Sit here, Yuuji-kun.” Gojo-sensei points at the chair, his blindfold is gone.

He signals Ijichi. The man brings a wooden box, which has seals too of course.

Gojo-sensei proceeds to open it, when he’s interrupted.

“Gojo Satoru! What are you doing?” one of the shadows speaks.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Gojo-sensei brushes it off, continuing what he was doing.

“Restrain the vessel immediately!” another one snaps.

“I suggest… You all should leave. Now.”

“Insolence!”

“I said… NOW.”

“…” the elder tries to say something but stops. He signals the others and they all march outside.

“We’re leaving, but the vessel must be executed today.”

“And so, he will be. I don’t want any of you nearby, so get lost to wherever the hell you came from, Before I change my mind.” He narrows his eyes at the elder, who listens.

“You too, Ijichi. I don’t want anyone in the building.”

The man nods and leaves.

Gojo-sensei feels their cursed energies disappearing far from the campus.

“Now.” he opens the box and takes out a finger.

He holds it out to Yuuji, who takes it and swallows it almost instinctively.

Nothing happens.

One by one, all the fingers have been consumed. Yuuji is still in control.

“Feel anything yet?”

“Nope.”

“Hmm.”

Gojo-sensei stands in front of the boy. Reluctantly.

“Ready?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

“You sure?” he insists.

“Now or never.”

“Okay.”

Slowly, Gojo-sensei moves his arms.

“One thing sensei!”

“Yes! Yuuji-kun.” He immediately lets go his hands. Hopeful.

“Thank you.”

“…for what?”

“Everything.”

Gojo-sensei hums in reply.

“I’m ready now.” Yuuji says eyes wide, with the same warm, and bright smile as always.

Gojo-sensei will miss that smile. The eyes that squinted a certain way when his smile reached his ears, or whenever his jokes caused the infectious laugh. He’s going to miss that. He will. For far longer than he should. But there’s no time to cry over spilled milk. Yet to be spilled.

He slowly lifted his hands. Blue eyes met brown one last time.

…

…

…

Gojo-sensei is still standing in the same position. He immediately lets his arms fall to his sides.

He starts moving in Yuuji’s direction.

He drops to his knees in front of Yuuji who’s lying there on the floor. He looks at his face; a tear had left the boy’s eye. He moves his hand to wipe it.

He looks so peaceful.

He thinks. So peaceful. Like he’s just sleeping, and if he made a noise, he might wake the boy up. So, he watches him silently. He sees the hollow in his chest.

Hollow?!

Then it comes back at him, all at once.

A scream-like cry leaves his throat, then another, and another.

They keep coming.

He can’t stop it.

He takes Yuuji the body in his arms and starts cradling it. Saying his name over and over.

“Yuuji-kun?”

A louder cry comes out of his mouth.

OH NO.

Nonono…

“Oh, Yuuji! Yuuji, YuujiYuuji……”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I should’ve protected you, I should’ve…”

“Please…”

Please…

Megumi feels Yuuji’s cursed energy flicker for a moment, then completely gone. Before he could think of anything, the tears he was holding in came rushing.

He was running now, he didn’t know when he took off, but he was running now. He doesn’t know why he’s running, what he’s running from, where he’s running to. All he knows is that he needs to run, and keep on running. So, he does, he runs, as fast as he can. With no regards of direction.

It’s just after a while that he reaches the execution room. He doesn’t know how he got there. He knows he was running, and he’s been crying, but he doesn’t know how he got there.

What?

He thinks as he’s catching his breath. The tears refuse to stop.

He opens the door, and steps inside to see a white-haired figure, on the ground, holding his best friend in his arms and cradling him.

Slowly, he begins to walk towards them.

It felt like it took forever to cross the distance.

He stops beside Gojo, and drops to the floor. He doesn’t see the crying man. Nor does he hear what he’s muttering under his breath. The man sees Megumi, and maneuvers the body in a way that the kid could see the face.

His hands are shaking, still, he tries and puts his hand on Yuuji’s face.

He’s cold.

Why is he this cold?

He usually runs warm.

Must be because of the cold weather.

But he still stays warmer than that.

“Why’re you so cold?” He asks out loud.

“What?” a sound muffled by saliva comes out of Gojo’s mouth as he looks at Megumi.

“Why’re You so cold? You’re usually so warm.” He ignores Gojo, still talking to Yuuji.

“Megumi…” He tries to console the kid, his voice gentle, the way a mother consoles her child when its dog passes, and the child doesn’t understand.

“Why is he so cold? Why?” his voice breaks before he finishes saying the last word.

Gojo puts his other hand on Megumi’s shoulder.

“Megumi…”

Megumi doesn’t listen, but he wraps his arms around Gojo’s neck, like a child finds shelter in his mother’s embrace.

They both cry their hearts out.

“I’m sorry Megumi. I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

“…I tried, …I really did, …I just, …I couldn’t, …I’m sorry, ‘Gumi.”

“Don’t be, …I know.”

“I’m really sorry. I couldn’t protect him. I couldn’t protect you.”

“No, don’t say that. You did what you could. It was his choice.”

“I know.”

“I shouldn’t have let him throw himself on the line. I should’ve knocked some sense into him. I should’ve…, … I should’ve told him sooner, I shouldn’t have waited so long, like you said, but I didn’t listen. I’m sorry.”

Gojo tries to hush him,

“Oh, ‘Gumi.”

“It’s all my fault. If I had been stronger, if I hadn’t needed help that day, then he wouldn’t have become…”

Gojo brings himself back to his senses.

He has to be there for Megumi.

“Hey, hey. Look at me. It’s not your fault. Okay? You understand?”

Megumi nods in response, his eyes closed.

“But it still hurts.” He cries.

“I know, 'Gumi, I know.”

Yuuji wakes up to a white light surrounding him. A void. It’s so bright, it almost hurts to look at. Except… his eyes don’t hurt.

Apparently, nothing hurts.

No pain.

All gone.

It doesn’t hurt anywhere. There is no pain. Not in his eyes, not in his head, not in his chest.

Thinking of it, he grabs his chest, trying to find a heartbeat. He doesn’t find one.

“Huh.” He scoffs “That’s weird.”

He looks around. Nothing. But that doesn’t bother him. Nothing does. It’s peaceful.

Too peaceful.

He feels peaceful.

He looks at his hands and moves them over to mess with his hair, he tries to feel his face and surprisingly, there's nothing under his eyes. No slits.

He’s gone?

“So, this is it? Huh?” He amusingly exclaims.

It’s quiet.

Nothing.

But he can’t ignore the fact that it’s peaceful. The peace he has never felt before. He figures there is a reason for all of it.

He can’t help a little smile tugging at his lips as he brings the pieces together.

“Finally… it’s over now.”