Chapter Text
Maki pauses as static suddenly permeates the air, her hair standing on end, she lowers her spear, cautiously glancing around.
She shudders as the static grows stronger, the scent of ozone prominent, she forces herself to breath deep, grip tightening on her spear as she straightens her back, slowly stepping towards where it's the strongest, narrowing her eyes on a specific spot, just barely able to see a pink, glowing dot.
She jolts back as a hand suddenly reaches through it, missing its pinky and ring fingers, it blindly pats around before grabbing the edge of the portal, wrenching it open, a second, fully fingered hand, grabbing the other side.
When the person finally makes their way through the portal, she's stepped closer, her spear just a few inches from the hands. Before the portal gets violently torn open, the person hoisting themselves out as the pink glow dissipates, like it was never there, the scent of ozone dispersing immediately, replaced by an overwhelming pressure, forcing Maki to stumble back, her eyes blown wide at the man.
She barely hears his voice over the ringing in her ears, it's a soft, gentle voice, like how one would talk to a child, "Oh, hey Maki, didn't think I'd run into you here."
Her breathing quickens, instinct takes over, thrusting forward with her spear, but she hits nothing, her momentum being redirected to the side.
"Okay..? Not in a chatty mood then?"
And within the last few seconds, that horrible, overwhelming malevolent sheet of raw energy went away, letting her breath properly, the ringing subsiding as she readjusts her weapon, pointing it back at the man, having to crane her neck to look at his face.
"Not particularly, who are you?"
He places his hands on his hips, his face covered by shadow, only able to see his silhouette, short hair, broad shoulders, an overall powerful stature.
"Well, nosey aren't'cha?"
She narrows her eyes at the obvious deflection, taking a subtle step back.
"Answer."
He hums, glancing around, apparently content to ignore her fully, looking for something she can't see. With a low growl, she lunges forward, trying to stab at him while he's distracted, but it works just as well as last time, her spear getting batted away casually, with enough force this time to send the weapon clattering onto the grass, she jumps back, arms coming up to block an attack she assumes is coming.
After a moment, she drops her arms, still crouched low just in case, the man staring at her with barely restrained amusement. "Maki, dude, you gotta chill out some."
She narrows her eyes, quickly reaching into her ponytail and pulling out a hidden knife, throwing it at the man, who barely looks surprised, almost bored, and reaches up to snag it out of the air, an inch from his face, crushing the dagger in his palm before tossing it aside carelessly.
"You done? I'm pretty sure Gojo taught you to retreat if you find yourself fighting someone leagues stronger than you."
She grits her teeth, taking another step backwards, clenching her fists, her whole body tense, frustrated from both the fact that he's right, and how he's barely phased from her attacks, attacks that can make people like Hakari stumble from surprise sometimes.
"Speaking of Gojo actually," He pauses, glancing around, likely searching with cursed energy, "Where's he at right about now?"
Maki clears her throat, her voice low, "Why do you need to find him?"
The man sighs, lifting his three fingered hand to drag it down his face in annoyance before hooking it on his shoulder, staring at her with thinly veiled annoyance.
"Goddamn… you're full of questions today huh?" It's clearly rhetorical, with the way he muttered it to himself, not even looking in her general direction anymore.
She takes a deep, shuddering breath, before darting forward while he's distracted, swinging her fist low, trying to catch his stomach, but almost imperceptibly, he grabs her fist, gently pushing it away, but she's unperturbed, her other fist barreling towards his face, but just like a moment ago, he grabs it, shoving her back with an elbow.
"Maki, please." he half-sighs out, his hands on his hips, exhaustion beginning to radiate from him, she sneers up at him, fists clenched, leaving tiny crescents on her palms.
They stare at each other, the man seemingly distracted by something as he looks down at her, which she takes advantage of, darting towards where he batted her spear away, snatching it up and swinging it down at his shoulder.
Or she would, if he didn't catch it in his palm, the sound of tiny slashes emanating from his iron grip, he sighs again, tightening his hold, cut marks appearing on the wooden handle.
"I really wanted to avoid breaking this thing."
Before she processes his words, the handle falls apart into dozens of chunks, clattering to the ground silently, the blade, no longer hindered by the wood, following suit, clanging against itself as it piles on the floor.
He wipes his hands off on his torso, voice bordering on apologetic.
"I really am sorry you know."
His words fall on deaf ears as she darts forward, finally finally catching him by surprise, landing a sharp blow to his stomach, something cracks, a burning sensation running up her arm as she stumbles back, eyes wide with shock and pain, the man wincing in sympathy, sucking in air between his teeth, rubbing at his knuckles absentmindedly.
"Shit, sorry Maki, that's on me honestly." He steps forward, hands raised in the air, his cursed energy coiling out, gently caressing her head, "Just let me help and I'll be on my way, it's the least I can do."
She bites back a sharp retort, even if he'd likely just laugh it off, hesitantly holding out her injured hand, the man cradling it like it's the most gentle thing he's held, she bites her tongue as a warm feeling sprouts under her skin, the pain of her bones forcibly stitching themselves back together barely felt this time, only a pleasant numbness.
After a short moment, he's done, releasing her hand and stepping back.
"There, all better."
Maki flexes her hand, inspecting the extremity with narrowed eyes, massaging it softly, she sighs, dropping her hand back down.
"Thanks," She shifts her narrowed gaze up at him, placing her hands on her hips, "Why do you need to find Gojo?"
He groans, palming his face as he slumps, "Ugh, why do you even care?"
"Because you're avoiding the question."
"No I'm not!"
"Then answer the goddamned question!"
He sighs, a long, defeated sound, hands dropping to his sides, something in the air hums, Maki growing hopeful that she's finally pulled an answer from this guy.
"…No"
She groans, tossing her hands in the air, opening her mouth to yell at him again, before she collapses, something in her chest giving out, as her vision fades the last thing she sees is his apologetic look, his lips moving, as well as the deep warmth from Reverse Curse Technique as she's cradled to the ground.
Yuji groans, crossing his arms as he stares down at the unconscious Maki, sighing and running a hand through his hair, making sure the artery he severed healed without consequence, muttering to himself.
"Why I thought she wouldn't be here I have no clue."
He flips his wrist up, pulling back his sleeve, mind blanking as his watch remains inert, just a simple-looking wristband.
He pulls the sleeve back down, then up, then down, prodding the holo-projector a couple times, before groaning, slumping forward, hands hanging down.
"Stupid fucking technology, why can't we have just kept with the classics."
After a moment, he sighs again, setting off towards the dorms, leaving Maki in a pleasant, if forced, nap.