Archive of Our Own

The Middle

The weight of the prison realm in his pocket was something Yuji couldn't really explain. He knew Gojo-sensei was in there, he just couldn't really understand how it had happened. Still, it didn’t matter.

With their group of Nobara, Megumi, Choso, and Yuji and Sukuna assembled, they made their way through the school towards the tomb of the star.

“I don’t understand why we can’t just tell it to open,” Nobara said with a frown, then she glared at Choso when she demanded, “Seriously, just tell us how to open it weirdo.”

“Gate: Open.” Choso said blandly. Then nothing happened.

“It probably has to be done by the person who closed it,” Megumi said exactly what Yuji was thinking. Thank goodness.

“It could likely be opened with nullification," Sukuna said boredly. He was obviously tired of being in this world now that the ‘fun’ was over.

Yuji frowned a little and pulled the prison realm out of his pocket. The blue eyes stared at him ominously.

“Do you think Nakagami-senpai could open it? I mean, she doesn’t have nullification but her technique is ‘good as’ most of the time right?”

The silence around him was jarring. Looking around, he found nothing but blank expressions from Nobara and Megumi. Suddenly, Yuji felt something crawling up his throat. Fear. Not the kind of fear of death— but the kind of fear from a lack of comfort and stability.

“Who?” Megumi frowned, eyes squinting.

“She’s a third year?” Yuji said slowly.

“All the third years were expelled,” Nobara said.

“Hoshi and Hakari,” Megumi clarified, “There were only two of them.”

Gripping the prison realm, Yuji stared at the blue eyes and thought of Nakagami-senpai. Of Gojo-sensei. A world where Nakagami-senpai and her chocolates didn’t exist.

No wonder the eyes on the box were weeping.

The Start

When they met it was in the winter. After the chaos of the bridge incident and the Death Paintings—- Yuji’s other brothers (not that he knew it at the time)— and what felt like a lifetime of exhaustion.

Megumi and Nobara had been seriously pushed to their limits and while Yuji was glad they were okay, it was worrying when his two classmates had passed out on the car ride back to the school. In his head, Sukuna was calling him a faithless idiot who had no confidence in his vassals but Yuji ignored it. Because it wasn’t a lack of anything, just an over abundance of worry.

Per his usual, Junpei was waiting near the school entrance, he was fidgeting nervously, and Yuji hated how it must have felt for him. To know all three of the others were out and risking their lives and he was forced to stay back because he was still on probation.

“Don’t worry, Yoshino-kun,” Nitta-san said softly, “Fushiguro-kun and Kugisaki-chan are going to be okay.”

It was the same platitudes she’d been giving Yuji the entire ride back. Which was kind, but it didn’t really help. Especially when several of Dr. Ieiri’s ‘minions’ rushed to the vehicle and began helping Nobara and Megumi onto stretchers.

“Are you—” Junpei started, then frowned.

Yuji stared at his hand and sighed, “Yeah. I’m fine. We’re both fine. That’s kind of the problem.”

“Don’t be an idiot, they can get stronger or die trying.” Sukuna said blandly. Yuji held back on rolling his eyes so they wouldn’t get stuck that way. The worst part was he couldn’t hold back the smile and the warmth in his chest that Sukuna was fine too.

Suddenly, one of the medics— who had been talking among each other, stood out when they said, “But Dr. Ieiri is currently in Kyoto, she was called on urgent business.”

Yuji and Junpei both immediately turned to the medic that had spoken, but before Yuji could ask the thousand questions about what was going to happen to his friends, another medic sliced into the conversation calmly.

“Nakagami-dono arrived from America last night. She’s far more suited for this case anyways.”

He sat on a cold metal chair while Megumi and Nobara laid silently. If Yuji wasn’t so completely attuned to their breathing he could have easily mistaken them for dead.

Junpei sat faithfully watchful by his side and none of their trio said a word. Yuji could only wish and feel pathetic about the fact that he couldn’t do much of anything. He’d always thought that when he learned reverse cursed technique— and healing others—- that he’d always be able to help out. It was frustrating the some things were beyond simply learning.

”You’re being an idiot.” Sukuna said with annoyance ”They’re not dead, just pathetic.”

Yuji pushed down the stupid smile that was trying to tug at his mouth from his brother’s phrasing. Because it was technically right. Megumi and Nobara were just overworked and exhausted to a dangerous degree.

The scary part was that he hadn’t sensed her. The door to the infirmary simply clattered open and caused Yuji to nearly jump out of his skin. Junpei made a terribly silly squeak in surprise at the sudden and giant sound of the door practically slamming open. Instantly, Yuji felt silly when all four of his eyes landed on the sorcerer who’d scared all nine hells out of him.

She was short. Stupidly short, the kind of short that would get someone mistaken for being a middle schooler. Her face was kind of round in that pleasant way, but she didn’t really have many features you could lock in on. If anything she was kind of normal looking. Pale skin, black hair, and really her uniform was the most interesting thing about her. The jacket being some sort of cropped puffy athletic zip up.

Then she moved and Yuji realized exactly the kind of person she was. Like Maki— he realized— there was no wasted energy, practically gliding and knew the exact weight of every single step she took.

”Huh” Sukuna said, kind of stupidly.

”What do you mean ‘Huh’?!” Yuji demanded because that ‘huh’ was not a comforting sound to be hearing from Sukuna of all people.

Before any of them could ask questions, the girl in question stood between Megumi and Nobara’s beds, pivoted on her heel, faced Yuji and Junpei, then very blandly put up a hand in greeting.

“Greetings First Year Kohai. I am Nakagami Michiko, I’ll be making you all dinner this evening.”

Then, without any explanation or further elaboration she slammed her hands on the heads of the unconscious sorcerers.

“HEY! Wait!” Junpei launched himself out of the chair. Without even thinking Yuji reached out and snagged his friend by the jacket as it hit him all at once.

Nakagami’s hands were swirling with energy, sudden and thick, but not just RCT—- there was something else. The flavor of it was purple like some sort of actual technique.

”So it’s like that.” Sukuna’s grin was audible around the words and Yuji felt a shiver down his spine.

After just a few moments Megumi groaned, then Nobara joined him in the sound. Immediately, Nakagami lifted her hands and cheered kind of blandly.

“Ta-da! Good as new.”

Nobara sat up slowly and looked more like she’d just woken from a nap when he blinked slowly and squinted. Megumi got up slower, more sluggishly and made a sound like a gag before he turned and looked at Nakagami.

Nobara happily said, “I feel like I just had the world’s best nap.”

“Senpai?” Megumi asked while he made a face that looked like he’d been dragged back from a coma and Yuji’s dozens of questions became hundreds when Nakagami pulled out a handful of chocolates and handed them to him and patted his shoulder.

“Eat a couple of these in twenty minutes to shake off that groggy feeling. It happens sometimes.”

“Who the heck are you supposed to be?” Junpei asked, obviously upset about the really weird series of events.

Nakagami looked at Junpei but it felt less like looking at and more like examining.

“Your senpai.”

“Nakagami is the only third year currently at Jujutsu Tech,” Megumi cut in groggily, he rubbed his face like he was really fighting with the terrible rest he’d had, “Hakari was expelled and Hoshi went with him, but Nakagami-senpai stuck around.”

“So you just decided to abandon us for the Good Will event?” Nobara sounded betrayed. It was kind of fascinating that she had bounced back like a spring flower. What with the way she leapt off the table and pointed accusingly at their supposed senpai.

“I abstained for moral reasons.” Nakagami said. Which was made obsolete when Megumi countered it.

“She took a bunch of Gojo’s missions just so she wouldn’t have to deal with Todo.”

”Huh” Sukuna said again, thoughtfully and annoyingly.

“Stop saying ‘huh’! It’s super ominous!” Yuji replied, he let all his frustration at his brother’s quiet vagueness seep through. Sukuna just mentally poked him to get him to lay off.

“Sorry how you like— died and stuff Sukuna-san. Skill issue I guess.”

Yuji nearly choked on his own tongue, but that was enough to have Sukuna laughing. Actual laughing, mouth unabashedly cackling from his permanent place on Yuji’s cheek.

“You pathetic little wretch, come here and I’ll show you exactly how much skill I lack!”

“Nah, I have a boyfriend already.”

“What’s your technique, you little harpy?”

“That would be telling.”

It was Yuji who cut in, because he could not stand whatever the hell was happening.

“This is weird, stop being weird. You’re gonna make my senpai hate me,” Yuji said wryły and a little creeped out. Megumi seemed like he would rather be in a coma again while Nobara seemed vaguely ill about the whole thing. Junpei was unreadable though.

“Ah, don’t worry, Itadori A-kun. Itadori B-kun won’t chase me off. The only people I won’t tolerate are the people who call me ‘ugly’. I don’t think Itadori B-kun would be that lazy with his insults,” Nakagami said— and it would have sounded kind if she hadn’t called them ‘A’ and ‘B’ like some sort of news story hiding the names of the innocent.

“Did she just call them “A” and “B”?” Nobara snickered behind her hand where she’d sort of drifted to Megumi’s side.

“Yeah,” Megumi confirmed.

Yuji kind of felt lost but he’d had a terrible couple of weeks so he sort of wanted to just sleep the miserable off for a while. Sukuna had recovered faster than him, and that was saying a lot.

“Anyways, you two are free to go. I’ve already started some beef stew with a light broth for dinner. Just head over to the third year dorms when it’s dinner time, okay?” Nakagami offered sweetly with a demure expression on her face.

Yuji really wasn’t sure what to think of her. She was obviously strong, but how strong was difficult to say. She seemed to have practically no cursed energy, but she was able to heal Nobara and Megumi in a way that wasn’t typical for RTC. So it was obviously a technique…

“Thanks,” Yuji tried to be polite back, even though he felt confused and tired mentally. Thankfully, Nobara and Megumi gave their own thanks and guarantees to go to the third year dorms for dinner.

“I don’t like her.”

Ever since entering Jujutsu Tech, Junpei’s disposition had become just a little bit brighter. Not that his dark and dour humor and cynicisms had gone away, it was just that Yuji could tell Junpei was finally enjoying being himself. Jujutsu Tech was like that. Everyone was just a little weird in their own way, and they all stuck together because they were all working towards the same goals.

So Junpei had gotten along great with Megumi and Nobara, forming odd little friendships with them both. It was like seeing him slot into the in-between places none of them had even realized existed. Hearing him say he didn’t like someone was jarring.

“What? We just met her!” Yuji nearly leapt at the idea you could dislike someone so quickly. Then again, he figured that some people just vibed wrong…

The two of them were sitting in the common area, Megumi and Nobara had been forced into bed rest early, so it was just Yuji and Junpei watching movies. Sukuna had gotten bored and had also kind of turned in for the night. Though he had parted from the evening with a blessing and permission to wake him if they started watching something more gory. Weirdo.

“She seems kind of full of herself, don’t you think?” Junpei asked a little sourly. He tucked his knees higher and frowned, face twisted, “And her cursed energy is creepy. It's like— you can’t really see it right? It’s always in the corner of your eye and if you try to look at it—- you just can’t.”

“Wow, you’re really observant.”

“What?”

“I– I could tell her cursed energy was weird, but to me it was like she didn’t really have cursed energy, like a flower or something.”

Like that plant curse that Gojo-sensei had accidentally let get away that night with the volcano curse. Sensei had said that plant thing was creepy too, right?

“What does Sukuna say?” Junpei asked, his sourness fading a little and made way for open curiosity.

“He’s just interested in her technique. That’s all he’s ever interested in.”

Junpei laughed a little, his stiffness falling away more.

“She seems like support right? Like Dr. Ieiri.”

“Yeah.”

Junpei didn’t say anything about it again. They just enjoyed the next movie and Yuji didn’t really consider it again.

“I hear you met my Number One Fan!” Gojo-sensei said cheerily. He’d arrived kind of late in that day to the training ground where Kusakabe-sensei was running them all through drills.

Gojo had been on quite a few missions since the Sister School Exchange ended. He must have either had very few with the slow season or been kind of slacking off. Whatever the case was, Yuji was sitting on the sidelines, having run all his laps in half the time and ignored the way Kusakabe was looking at him like a bug from the other side of the field.

“Number One Fan?” Yuji frowned a little at the phrasing. Sukuna’s irritation could be felt rolling under the skin and he sort of agreed. Gojo was fun and easily one of the best sources of knowledge he could ask for but sometimes he took the whole ‘I’m famous’ thing too far.

“What kind of vapid moron have you fooled into admiring you?”

“Vapid moron?!” Gojo placed an offended hand dramatically over his chest and obviously wasn’t offended at all, “Don’t let Chikochan hear you say that, she’ll kill you for real.”

Squinting, Yuji kind of tried to understand what he was hearing. The only person he’d ever heard Gojo refer to with any affectionate nickname was Nanamin. Even then— it was obvious he was being jokey and teasing.

Racking his brain, Yuji tried to think of all the people he met recently and could really only think of Nitta-san. Was her first name something to do with ‘Chiko?’ Yuji couldn’t remember, actually.

“Nitta-san?”

Gojo pulled a face. The kind of face that was dripping with a level of judgment that could give Sukuna a run for his money.

“Did Akari talk about me? That’s kind of unprofessional at her age don’t you think? It's one thing to send me one-sided valentines gifts, but to ask my students about me is kind of disturbing.”

Yuji sort of felt bad for Nitta-san suddenly. Sukuna practically rolled his eyes so hard their whole head almost rolled with it. Though, the idea that Nitta-san had sent Gojo-sensei unrequited valentines like he was some sort of idol was super embarrassing.

“No, Nitta-san didn’t talk about you,” Yuji admitted, if only so that the poor assistant manager didn’t get a lecture from somebody.

“The idea you get offerings like some sort of God is actually kind of amusing,” Sukuna said dryly, “Are the options for Gods really so limited in this era? Pathetic.”

“Aw, you and Yuji-kun will get your own offerings one day, I’m sure”! Gojo said, but it was obviously condescending and intended to irritate Sukuna.

“As if I’d want the paltry gifts that the worms of this era could offer,” Sukuna spat back.

“I dunno, I’ve never got anything but obligation chocolate,” Yuji admitted.

Crossing his arms thoughtfully, Yuji considered the whole thing. It wasn’t that he wanted to be worshipped or anything. It was that he wasn’t the kind of guy that girls were into. Not like Gojo-sensei who had the face of an idol —- and sure he was a mountain of a guy built like a truck, but his clothes were always carefully chosen and seemed to make him look fashionably slim and strong.

Yuji had been called ‘potato face’ a few times. Not that he minded, he knew he took after his dad, who was kind of plain in the face. Being normal looking wasn’t bad, it just didn’t get you lots of admirers in school. Most of the people who thought Yuji was cool were dudes, and that was chill, but not the kind of respect a teen wanted all the time.

Besides, he also looked pretty much exactly how he did in his first life as Kannon. So that just meant his body was shaped by his soul in a lot of ways. So yeah. He didn’t dislike his looks, he just kind of wished he’d at least had a girlfriend before his brother claimed squatters rights and all that.

“Eh, Most highschool girls only care about pretty faces. You’ll get plenty of attention when you’re older,” Gojo said, and it was obviously supposed to be comforting, but it just seemed sort of backhanded.

“Thanks?”

“Who cares about women? They’re equally as useless as men. None of them have any value unless they can be of use.”

“You’re such a weirdo, Sukuna. But you’re sort of right I guess, I’d hate to be surrounded by losers all the time.” Gojo laughed, “Yuji-kun, when you finally get a girlfriend, make sure she’s at least strong enough you don’t have to worry about her. Having a weak damsel in distress hanging around is only fun in fiction.”

At the risk of sounding like Todo, Yuji wondered what Gojo’s type was.

“So, does Sensei have a girlfriend then?”

Sukuna made a sound of disgust, but Yuji ignored him. Interestingly, Gojo actually tilted his head, and his expression softened a little. Like he wasn’t his normal ‘on’ and cheery when he thought about it.

“Yeah. I do.”

“Oh.”

Yuji wondered for a moment what she could possibly be like. The kind of woman that Gojo-sensei would be interested in—- because it was easy to imagine that a woman would be into Gojo. He was just so cool and yeah he was annoying sometimes, but some girls were into that right? And Yuji doubted he was like that all the time. Right?

She was probably super pretty. Like an idol, and tall, but not taller than Gojo because Gojo was a giant. Yuji could imagine she was curvy and super womanly, the kind of girl that turned heads and had talent scouts after her twenty-four seven. If she was strong, then she was probably a Grade One— because Megumi had said there were only Four Special Grades. Gojo, a second year, a third year, and some lady older than Gojo. Yuji wondered if Gojo was into older women… Or if he had a preference for hair color…. then he decided that Gojo was cool and strong enough that he could really have any preference he wanted.

“What? That's it? You’re not gonna ask about her?” Gojo pouted and leaned down with a frown. He was suddenly way too close and Yuji had to lean away.

“Back off freak,” Sukuna complained, “Nobody cares where you stick your—”

Yuji slammed hand over Sukuna’s mouth and screeched, “I DON'T WANNA THINK ABOUT SENSEI’S BITS!”

Unfortunately, that was when Megumi and Nobara finished their lap and he was instantly rewarded for his horror by mirrored looks of horror and disgust.

Gojo just tossed his head back and laughed like a maniac.

“It's potentially one of Sukuna’ fingers,” Ijichi-san explained as he led them to the waiting car. “You will be accompanied by Nakagami-kun in case it is a higher level than anticipated.”

“Oh, that’s nice of her,” Yuji said kind of absently.

Having one of the few healers play support for his mission was really cool. It kind of showed exactly how important it was.

“She’ll be accompanying you for all the potential ‘finger’ cases from now on. Now that you and Sukuna are more aware of the other parts, its vital we gather them as they awaken. Especially since they are obviously being targeted by someone.”

The fingers that had gone missing from the Cursed Vaults were something Yuji had to hear Sukuna complain about for ages once they’d been reunited. It was a pain, especially since they’d offered to eat them pretty early on, and now they were in the hands of some weirdo.

Shaking off Sukuna’s irritation, Yuji slid in the waiting car and found Nakagami-senpai already there. She was on her phone, absently tapping away, probably texting some message. Once he was settled, she placed her phone in her lap and offered her attention while Ijichi-san started the car and headed out.

“Itadori A-kun, I look forward to working with you and Itadori B-kun.”

“You can call me Yuji-kun if you want,” Yuji said, kind of weirded out by her insistence on the ‘A’ and ‘B’ thing. Sukuna was already pissed off at her calling him ‘B’ again.

“Dont you dare call me ‘B’ again you little harpy.”

“Ah, Yuji-kun and Sukuna-chan it is,” she nodded, “Perfect.”

“I’m going to peel your flesh off your bones.”

Maybe the weirdest thing about Nakagami-senpai was the way she didn’t seem scared of Sukuna. Not one single bit. She didn’t flinch, or tense, she just looked at the mouth on Yuji’s cheek and very blandly replied.

“Satoru says you like meat, I bet you’d appreciate beef shank. It takes hours to braise, but it’s really worth it.”

“Huh?”

Yuji and Sukuna asked in complete unison. Sukuna was obviously amused by something but Yuji was just confused as hell.

“You don’t like meat?”

“He said he was going to debone you.” Yuji reminded her.

Suddenly she laughed. Soft and—- it sounded real. It was kind of freaky to have someone laugh at Sukuna. Someone who wasn’t Gojo at least.

“I know what he said, but you’re at what? Four fingers? He’s not skinning anybody anytime soon. At least, nobody actually worth the meat on their bones. It's kind of funny how weak he probably is right now. Satoru still has to play with kid gloves with you. You’re maybe on the level of Kusakabe-sensei right now if he was really putting effort in.”

“Huh?” Yuji found it falling out of his mouth again, Sukuna laughed. Like being called weak was amusing to him. Then again, maybe it was, Sukuna was weird about that sort of thing since they technically were weak. Four out of twenty wasn’t exactly a big fraction in the grand scheme.

Sukuna’s tone was dripping with something darkly curious when he asked, “Tell me, are you truly a Nakagami?”

“I am.”

Immediately, Yuji’s brain was scrambling to figure out what Sukuna was asking. Clearly the Nakagami name meant something. Scouring the memories he had from Kannon, he came up short and kind of hated how little they knew about sorcerers and their families back then. Outside of understanding certain clans better— even knowing about a few that had probably died out but were once world leaders— Yuji couldn’t rustle up anything about Nakagami.

“Intersting.”

“You can’t just say it's interesting and not tell me,” Yuji complained.

“You didn’t ask.” Sukuna said dryly, clearly messing with him.

“My Clan is dead though,” Nakagami said matter of factly, “I’m the first sorcerer since the Tenpo Era. My father took my mother’s name.”

“That’s… cool?" Yuji guessed, because it was kind of cool. Most of the kids from clans he knew were from old lines that had persisted against the odds—- like Nobara— or were carefully kept alive through tradition and some questionable arranged marriages— like Megumi and Maki-san.

“Moron.” Sukuna said, but it was his usual soft way of calling Yuji an idiot.

“Hey!”

Nakagami smiled a little like she thought they were funny.

“Satoru said you two were amusing. I see what he meant.”

So she did think they were funny. Yuji pouted a little, but then he realized that was the third or fourth time she’d called Gojo by his given name. It was only funny because it reminded him that to some people, Gojo was someone they grew up around. Maki had called Gojo by his given name too. So had Panda.

“I’m not an entertainer,” Sukuna said dryly. Then promptly sunk back, clearly tired of the conversation.

Nakagami hummed a soft sound but said nothing.

“So, you’re technique… you’re a support type right?” Yuji asked. He was just trying to make conversation, honest. He didn’t expect Sukuna to start laughing in his head. It wasn’t the usual darkly amused laugh either, it was that laugh he only let out when he was cracking up over his own stupid jokes

Even worse! Nakagami’s eyes kind of looked over at him like she was starting at a wall. Brown eyes sort of blank and unseeing.

“Ah! Nakagami-kun! I’m sure he’s just being polite and making conversation,” Ijichi suddenly cut in. Which was startling! Ijichi-san never interrupted casual conversations unless he was giving important info for the mission!

“Itadori-kun isn’t the sort to give backhanded insults. He’s very forthright and earnest.”

Ijichi-san was nervous, Yuji realized it suddenly and awkwardly. Ijichi was nervous about Nakagami-senpai.

Then there was ‘kun’. Ijichi called Kugisaki ‘chan’ and all the adults ‘san’. Even Gojo. So why was Nakagami suddenly an exception? Did it have to do with her being in a clan? The same way everyone called Maki ‘san’ to make up for the respect since she didn’t want them calling her by her family name.

“I see,” Nakagami said kind of thoughtfully, then nodded, “No. I’m not a support type.”

“So… what is your technique?” Yuji asked as politely as he could. The atmosphere had gotten super awkward. He wasn’t even sure why either!

“I would tell you, but then Sukuna-chan would know and that would be boring.”

The smile she suddenly gave was sly and teasing. Like whatever insult she’d assumed he was giving her was forgiven and she decided to be friendly again.

Junpei was right. She was weird. And not even just because her cursed energy was hard to focus on—- Yuji was starting to think you couldn’t actually see it with how weird it was—- but because she was really difficult to get a read on.

Nakagami-senpai was the scariest person Yuji had ever met. Including Sukuna. Period.

They’d arrived at the potential finger location just in time to witness that volcano curse Gojo had fought, snatching the finger from the curse who had been carrying it. Its single eye was wide and before Yuji could ask the ten questions forming in his head about it the volcano guy lifted his hand.

Yuji was fast. That was just the truth, and while his body was resilient, the fact a whole volcano appeared on the wall wasn’t something he was confident he could survive and he was about to try and dodge before—--

“Stay low.”

Nakagami shoved him down and tanked the entirety of the hit.

Something crawled up Yuji’s throat— it had the same taste as abject horror. Under his skin Sukuna rattled, but his laughter was echoing in Yuji’s skull. Something unhinged and delighted on a level he hadn’t been since Gojo had shown them Infinity.

“Hey, this guy could kill us right now.” Sukuna said, and he wasn’t even joking. Not even a little bit..

Yuji screeched, “Then why are you laughing you moron?!”

The fire kind of warped like reality was being distorted until it twisted around like a ribbon reduced to nothing but pure cursed energy, then the smoke faded, and Yuji realized exactly why Sukuna was laughing in the face of a Cursed Spirit that was strong enough to kill them at a mere four fingers. Nakagami-senpai was still standing. The pure cursed energy the fire had morphed into just sank into her skin.

“Yuji-kun, Sukuna-chan. Please stay low while I get rid of this thing.”

“THING?!” Volcano-guy shouted, “Who are you calling a thing you stupid sorcerer!”

It gripped the finger and shoved it within the folds of its clothes. Nakagami walked over Yuji where he was hunkered down on the ground. She was almost casual in the way she moved, but there was something kind of terrifying about it.

In a quick motion she unwrapped the pole arm she’d been carrying during their walk up and effortlessly revealed a weapon Yuji had never seen before in his life. It looked like some strange mix of an axe and spear that had a curved blade too.

“A halberd.” Sukuna said there was a question there. Yuji could hear it better than most people might and understood his brother was asking why she’d wield a weapon. After all, Sukuna only used cursed tools in order to fight large armies. Kamutoke, which could absorb electricity and strike down weaker sorcerers in one shot and Hiten, which extended his reach because when it was thrown it could be summoned back.

Nakagami looked over her shoulder and smiled at them, “Don’t worry, it’s just to extend my reach.”

Yuji felt his heart pounding, and for a moment, just a moment, he had that familiar feeling of sureness he only ever had when Sukuna said things were going to be okay, or when Gojo-sensei had placed a hand on his head and said to stay close.

Spinning her halberd, Nakagami vanished in a blink and only seemed to reappear next to the curse. She was fast. The kind of fast that took your breath and jolted you awake.

“Watch closely,” Sukuna instructed firmly, “And tell me what her technique is when you understand.”

Yuji had never seen someone fight like her. Nakagami’s movements were strong, but they were so smooth, like she was dancing. She wasn’t out to exorcise the curse. If anything, as Yuji followed every single one of her dips and swings, it seemed like she was toying with the volcano guy. Not the way Gojo had, because Gojo had been after information.

Nakagami seemed like she was after something else. Pushing and pushing, refusing to end it and she tanked hits over and over. For a moment he wondered if she was just that good at Reverse Cursed Technique but that didn’t feel right. Her cursed energy was still weird, he couldn't really focus or follow it, and every time she did it the fire, lava, or those bugs— all of them– warped and distorted before being nullified to pure energy and—-

“She’s absorbing the cursed energy.” Yuji said breathlessly.

“We can’t focus on her cursed energy because her technique makes it feel neutral.”

The way you tracked a sorcerer, curse user, or even a cursed spirit was through residuals. Yuji learned that early on. Every single person’s cursed energy had unique qualities, like DNA or finger prints. It was all the same type of thing, but they all had markers that could decisively tell who left it.

Nakagami’s ability to absorb cursed energy and make it her own meant that her cursed energy was an amalgam. It was basically all the colors of paint poured together into one giant bucket. Of course it was hard to focus on—- her energy was all sorts of energies blended up to the point that it became ‘invisible’. Like trying to smell your own scent on your clothes. You couldn’t.

It was kind of scary the way Nakagami drew the battle out, but it didn’t actually last that long. When it was over—-- after less than five minutes had passed—- she didn’t even seem worse for wear. Every bit of cursed energy she’d expended had been replenished tenfold by the fact she’d absorbed the Cursed Spirit instead of exorcising it.

When it was over, she happily tossed the finger Yuji’s way with a smile. Stretching like she’d just gone for a light jog, and hadn’t played around kind of relentless and terrifying with that volcano guy, she sighed.

“Man, I could really use something to eat! Let's get yakiniku. Have you had barbeque Sukuna-chan?”

“I haven’t taken him yet,” Yuji admitted, a bit awe struck by the whole thing, “We can go. Whatever you want. That was so cool!”

Waving him off, Nakagami very brightly said, “It wasn’t much. Besides, you’ll be able to take something like that down really soon.”

Yuji got used to her. Nakagami-senpai that is.

She was always around and not just because she was a third year, but she had a habit of dropping bentos off for Gojo-sensei just as the break for lunch started. Sometimes she’d even interrupt class and bring him omiyage from her latest mission and slowly Yuji realized it was Nakagami-senpai that Gojo had meant when he had talked about his ‘biggest fan’.

After a lot of drama in October, they made it through the thick of it and Yuji got a dead mother, a brother, and a very polite Uraume out of the ordeal. On top of that, he ate up to fifteen fingers. Meaning there were only four more floating around and they were already mapping out where they might be based on vibes. Frankly, those were the only things worth mentioning.

(Gojo-sensei though, he apparently got some freaky box with eyeballs on it that Yuji was not asking about. Not after Sukuna said it was the remains of some monk who had a crazy technique that allowed him to imprison people. Yikes.)

When Valentines rolled around, Yuji tried not to think about the fact that he probably wasn’t ever gonna have a girlfriend. That was okay with him. Instead he focused on how fun it was going to be getting obligation chocolate, while he also made a list of all the things he’d get the girls for white day. Maybe cute bracelets.

Yuji was in the middle of throwing gum drops at Panda who was catching them with his mouth during movie night. Megumi and Toge were figuring out what to watch because Yuji had picked the last three. Sukuna had zero investment because to him, watching fictional tales of heroes was droll. Though he did enjoy a good horror. For obvious reasons.

Nobara and Maki were lounged together on the smaller sofa talking about their plans for chocolate making.

“I was thinking about making chocolate cookies for the boys,” Nobara said kind of casually, “We’re doing an exchange right?”

“Yeah,” Maki frowned, “We never have enough girls though. So the boys aren’t expected to give us white day gifts unless we single them out.”

Nobara made a sound of annoyance, then she asked, “We’re not expected to make any for teachers right?”

“No way,” Maki said firmly, “That’s going too far.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Yuji tried not to think about the fact Gojo had kind of bragged to him about getting lots of valentine's that one time.

“Oh, we should invite Nakagami,” Nobara suddenly sounded brighter, “This kind of thing is totally up her alley. I bet she already has a recipe.”

“Yeah, she’ll show up for sure, but she’ll want us in the third year kitchens. Since she makes two batches every year.”

“For Kyoto?” Nobara asked surprised.

“No, she makes Gojo his own. I guess he gets jealous if he gets the same thing all the other boys do.” Maki said, obviously grossed out.

“That’s kind of embarrassing,” Yuji butted in, because how could he not. “Gojo-sensei really gets upset about something like that?”

It was Yuta, who had been pretty quiet on one of the cushions and flipping through netflix with the remote who answered.

“Is it? I mean, If Maki gave me the same chocolate she gave you I’d feel kind of bad. Like I wasn’t special.”

“That’s different!” Yuji sputtered, “I mean— You’re dating.”

Junpei was walking in with the two big batches of popcorn he had made for everyone. Which was terrible timing, because that’s when Megumi let out the big reveal.

“Yuji. Gojo and Nakagami-senpai are engaged.”

Fitting and dramatic, Junpei dropped the popcorn while Yuji shrieked. Sukuna, the monster, was cackling like the maniac he was.

“IN COMBAT?!”

“In marriage, you moron!” Maki threw a pillow at him. Then her expression morphed into a sinister grin when she said, “Her mom sold her off to my stupid cousin Naoya last year and Satoru put a stop to it by challenging the whole thing. It was great. “

“You just think it was great because you got to watch Naoya get his face caved in during the duel,” Yuta laughed softly.

“Yeah? So?” Maki was unashamed and Yuji was sputtering in an attempt to comprehend what was happening.

Junpei, his only real friend apparently, shouted.

“What do you mean Gojo-sensei is sleeping with a student?!”

“They’re engaged.” Megumi replied blandly.

Yuta made calming hand motions and gave a soft expression, "It's a thing that happens sometimes. Don’t worry too much about it. Gojo-sensei cares about her a lot. It's a big thing for him to marry her.”

“Yeah, because he’s a teacher!” Junpei replied frantically, it was so obvious he was experiencing exactly what Yuji was. Just on a completely different level.

Gojo-sensei had been the first teacher that Junpei had ever felt safe around. Gojo cared and they all mattered to him. To Gojo, Junpei wasn’t just a number and seat, he was a young sorcerer that needed nurturing and protection.

Yuji could only imagine the betrayal was indescribable.

“No, because the Nakagami Clan and Gojo Clan famously refused to acknowledge the other existed for centuries all the way until the Nakagami Clan died out a couple centuries ago.” Maki said blandly, “Gojo taking Nakagami’s technique into the Gojo Clan Repertoire is huge. The Zenin and Kamo argued for ages about it too. Apparently Kamo Noritoshi was supposed to be the one to marry her but Kiyomizu died before he could finish the contract and Noritoshi refused to arrange his own marriage. There was a big scandal last year.”

“Wow, her life is like— a whole different genre than our horror show,” Nobara said with clear envy.

“I don’t think being up for wholesale like a slab of meat is enviable,” Megumi said with disgust, and Yuji had to agree.

“Gojo-sensei put a stop to it all though,” Yuta said happily, “Since they apparently fell in love when she was a first year.”

“Which is shady as hell, oh my god!” Nobara gagged.

“It’s fine,” Maki said with a look of disgust, “Trust me. It’s a very specific case. Satoru isn’t into girls. He’s just so full of himself that the first time someone put up with him he fell in love. Like a stray dog.”

“That make sense,” Megumi and Nobara said at the same time.

“Pathetic,” Sukuna said, half-hearted. Like he just wanted to remind them he was there.

Yuji didn’t know how to feel.

Gojo-sensei got a mountain of valentines. Yuji kind of felt weird about that.

Except Gojo-sensei seemed to pick out all the food and threw them out. He only kept the flowers and shoved the fan letters in a big filing box for a purpose and future only he knew. The only chocolates he ate had arrived with the regular bento from Nakagami-senpai.

Yuji offered him one of the cookies the girls made and while Gojo-sensei accepted, it was obvious he was comparing what he got to what the boys got. Thankfully it seemed he had deemed his personalized gift superior and that was that.

After eating the sixteenth finger, Yuji was walking with Nakagami-senpai through a shopping center. Apparently there was a really good sushi place she wanted to share that also served karage.

“Satoru brought me here a few weeks ago,” She was explaining as they got closer to the restaurant, “As your Senpai it's on me, but you have to at least try the otoro.”

“Otoro? Really?” Yuji felt his excitement building, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah yeah, I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it, Yuji-kun. Just be sure to order some for you and Sukuna-chan.”

“You’re insufferable, you know that woman?” Sukuna asked, because he still wasn’t over the fact she had designated him with chan.

“Yeah yeah,” Nakagami waved him off, “You can stop putting up with me when I stop sharing delicious food with you or whatever.”

Sukuna made a sound of disgust, “You’re lucky you’re useful. The only purpose you serve is to aid Uraume in the kitchen. You’re better served there than warming Six Eyes bed.”

Yuji slapped his own forehead and gave his brother a mental shove.

“Sukuna! Don’t say that!”

“You know better than anyone that being served by someone as an act of love is infinitely better than being served by force. I mean, that’s why you keep Uraume around, isn’t it?”

“I keep Uraume around because they are useful. Don’t presume to know me.” Sukuna said scathingly, but Nakagami just smiled at them softly. A knowing in her eyes.

Yuji bit the inside of his cheek to hold back whatever tension he was feeling from the conversation. Because that was exactly why Uraume was around. Sure, Uraume was strong, but they adored Sukuna in a way that wasn’t romantic— but it was something deep and real and Yuji could feel it even in the way Uraume looked at him. The softness Uraume used when they said his name. Uraume was the only one to refer to Yuji as Kannon-sama and they were so gentle about it, the name so warm in their mouth despite their ice affinity, Yuji couldn't even argue it.

“Nakagami-senpai,” Yuji started, asking a question before he could even think, “Are you happy?”

Not even hesitating, she smiled brightly, “Of course I am, Yuji-kun!”

”Of course she is,” Sukuna grumbled, ”A woman like that wouldn’t be satisfied with a mediocre man. Its just lucky for her Gojo actually cares for the warm touch of a lover”

Yuji sighed.

“How long have you known him?” Yuji asked, trying to make things less weird. Which he failed, apparently, because her answer was kind of creepy.

“Oh we met when I was five! Satoru was at the start of his second year and he took a mission in my village.”

“Five?”

“He was sizing me up, since my technique had just manifested.”

“Sizing up… a five year old?”

Yuji got chills from how weird that was. Uncannily, Nakagami and Sukuna laughed at the same time.

“Sensei, do you think there is somebody for everyone?” Yuji asked.

They were sitting on the bleachers, a bonfire burning and raging while all three years of students ran around with sparklers in their hands. It was apparently a tradition before spring break to have one. They’d sort of missed the usual fall one, with Halloween being a nightmare and all that, but Gojo had been determined for this one to happen.

Now, Yuji was munching on a s’more while he watched Panda and Nobara dancing around the fire with sticks like some sort of ritual only they seemed to understand. Megumi and Junpei were with their senpai--- Nakagami, Toge, Yuta, and Maki--- roasting marshmallows. Except Nakagami had three on her metal skewer.

Choso and Uraume were off to the side, working in some sort of uncanny tandem preparing actual food on a grill. Because they were just like that.

“Huh?” Gojo tilted his head kind of wildly. Their sensei had dressed casually in jeans and a leather jacket, but he was still wearing his blind fold. “What kind of question is that?”

“I mean…” Yuji frowned.

“You're pretty young to be having trouble with women.”

“I'm not,” Yujis replied. Irritation rose in his chest. Gojo was never serious if he could help it and sometimes that was fun, and sometimes it was annoying. “I’m just thinking about the future.”

“You shouldn’t worry about things that aren’t in front of you, Yuji-kun!” Gojo waved a finger at him like he was being naughty. “Sukuna should have taught you that by now.”

“Don’t lecture me on what I should and shouldn’t be teaching him.” Sukuna grumped.

Brushing both of them off, Yuji huffed, “Its just… Nakagami-chan is a lot like you. Right?”

“Are you seriously talking about that insufferable woman?” Sukuna asked. His usual color commentary.

Gojo didn’t startle, if anything his expression softened. Like his smile was a little more real than before.

“You don’t think she’s cute, Sukuna? Wow, you have no taste.”

“I’m not pathetic enough to have anything as basal as taste in women.” Sukuna replied haughtily, like he was better than either of them for it.

“He’s just mad that she calls him Sukuna-chan.” Yuji rolled his eyes.

“Oh?” Gojo’s menacing grin was back, “She’s like that you know.”

“Huh?”

“Before she was freed, Chikochan talked to Rika-chan right from the get go. Everyone else had to take time to get used to her, and even then they pretended she wasn’t around most of the time. Kind of like you and Sukuna. But Chikochan was different. Right from the start she treated Rika like she was just another part of the first years. As if her and Yuta just happened to be together all the time. I bet that’s how she’s always talked to you and Sukuna, right?”

Sukuna scoffed, and Yuji stared as something settled and clicked together in his heart and mind. Because Gojo was right, she called Sukuna-san, then went for Itadori B-kun until she was asked to call them by their given names. She was the only one who never danced around it or tried to convince Yuji that Sukuna was something to be scared of. Not once.

“She has good eyes like that,” Gojo said tenderly, “Chikochan can always see right through someone and she’s never afraid of what she sees.”

“Do you believe in soulmates?” Yuji asked. Sukuna shoved him mentally.

“You’re a moron.”

Gojo chuckled a bit before he replied, “No. Life isn’t like that. You need to find someone willing to make room for you. And, Yuji-kun, Sukuna-chan, you both take up a lot of space. Like two watermelons in one.”

“Huh?” Yuji squinted his eyes.

“You’re an idiot too.” Sukuna huffed.

Before he could ask more, Nakagami-senpai was practically hopping over excitedly with the world's biggest stacked s’more with all three of the marshmallows she roasted. They were perfectly golden and there were three graham crackers and four pieces of chocolate.

“Satoru! I made you a super-s’more!”

“The skill! The talent!” Gojo thrilled excitedly as he was handed the plate which held the enormous monstrosity of sugar. “10/10 you move onto the next round of The Next Master Confectioner!”

Nakagami laughed and it was a bit funny, Yuji smiled at Gojo’s antics even if it was a bit much.

Sometimes they went for walks. Just the two of them. Getting away from it all in Tengen’s forest was nice in its own way. It was one of those walks when Yuji and Sukuna saw them sparring.

It was different from when Yuji and Sukuna sparred with Gojo-sensei. There was something else to it.

They watched as Gojo-sensei launched a blue and Nakagami danced, absorbing it, then clapped her hands together to launch a beam of pure cursed energy that cut through everything in its path. To the point that Gojo-sensei dodged it. Af if he wasn’t confident that Infinity would take the hit.

The clearing was bigger than the one Gojo trained with the twins in. There were fallen trees and shattered boulders. Similar to their clearing but on a much larger scale. Like this place had seen dozens of scraps and battles like this. While the twins had only ‘play fought’ with Gojo-sensei a handful of times.

Nakagami launched herself at Gojo and he dodged but they scrambled, fast as lightning while they fought hand to hand. The size difference was huge and they were both strong and fast. It was—-

Kid gloves. That’s what Nakagami had said. Gojo-sensei had only ever sparred with the twins using kid gloves because back then a curse like the volcano guy could have killed them. Of course Gojo would hold back.

They were at fifteen fingers now though, sixteen actually. So why… A phantom sensation of Sukuna’s hand on his head grabbed and pushed Yuji to watch. To observe. To work it out.

Gojo-sensei’s eyes glowing bright— Infinity stopping the rocks and sharp projectiles, and then Nakagami closing in, cutting through the eternal space between them like it didn’t exist at all. No— there was a shimmer on her skin and—

Her absorption could absorb that volcano curse’s fire, so she could absorb techniques. It followed then, that Nakagami could cut through infinity.

”This isn’t just training for her”. Yuji said, and hated how it came out a little bitter. Jealousy at the fact he wasn’t strong enough to be the one to push Gojo higher. That it wasn’t even Sukuna— because they weren’t complete yet but maybe then—-

”Idiot” Sukuna said, but it was affectionate and soft, “It will only make fighting him more interesting if he’s continuing to stretch higher. Only the stupid are content with simple greatness”

Yuji watched, observing what he could, Sukuna made notes and when it was over, Gojo-sensei was panting hard like he’d really exerted himself. Then he smiled, eyes locked on the twins.

“Hey! You two! Get over here!”

Nakagami— who was also breathing heavy turned her attention to them and waved them over more quietly.

“Sukuna-chan, we were wondering if I could try absorbing a cleave or two. Did you or Yuji want to throw them at me?”

And Yuji felt something in his chest, something warm and bright because they could have just ignored them. Stayed in their own world but Gojo understood right? What it was like being forced to watch from the sidelines—

“Start with Yuji first,” Sukuna said challengingly, “If you can handle that I’ll give it a go. I won’t be accused of killing you on purpose.”

“As if you could,” Nakagami said dryly, “You’re still missing a few fingers.”

“You cocky little harpy!” Sukuna grinned, his bloodlust and eagerness to show her exactly why they were called King of Curses bubbled up and Yuji sighed.

“You’re such an easy target,” Gojo teased. “Or is it because she’s a girl?”

“You really shouldn’t let it get to you.” Yuji agreed, but Sukuna’s claws were already out.

“Hurry up and show her exactly how strong you are now.”

Yuji smiled, “Yeah yeah, bossy.”

The End?

Having Tengen-sama be no use was frustrating. All she could tell them was the things that could have helped. Namely the Inverted Spear of Heaven (which Gojo destroyed or sealed overseas somewhere) or Black Rope (which Gojo-sensei also destroyed). Because Gojo-sensei had a thing against tools that could nullify techniques. Apparently. Yuji wanted to kick him in the shins.

Still, the prison realm stayed with him. He didn’t trust anyone else with it. Not when all the strongest people he knew weren’t here or weren’t strong enough to protect it yet.

“Nakagami-senpai would be able to open it,” Yuji said quietly in the room he’d stolen from his other self.

It was strange, definitely their room but to the left. There was nothing of Sukuna’s present.

Now that they were at twenty fingers, their alleged Binding Vow keeping Sukuna on a leash as far as the Higher Ups knew, Yuji sometimes just let Sukuna have a day out. Sukuna insisted that Yuji have the body the most. Since he’d lived his life, and now he was simply here to clear the way for him to life freely as Sukuna himself had once.

So yeah, Sukuna’s uniforms weren’t in the closet, none of his clothes either. Their altered outfits when it was a non-mission day (when they wouldn’t be dealing with normies) and they could have all their arms out freely.

The bonsai Sukuna kept up religiously, and the many other plants he tended were non-existent. Even the writing set was nowhere to be found. As if they hadn’t spent hours relearning calligraphy and arguing about proper haikus.

It was barren of the thousand years of love and violence they had shared between them.

“Nobody knows who that little harpy is.” Sukuna reminded him. He was lazily just in the back of Yuji’s mind. Clearly sick of being here. His plants were gone for crying out loud.

“She has to exist right? She was born before me.”

“Hn.”

“We’re going to Nara.”

Sukuna said nothing, because it was better than sticking around this room. With its empty wall and grey colors, no carefully placed light or greenery. No Calligraphy or paintings. Even Hiten was absent from where it normally hung over their bed. In pieces, a relic and unusable, but theirs.

They left in the night. Nobody tried to stop them. Who could? Yuji had a bitter taste in his mouth the entire bullet train ride to Nara. It was the place to start, after all.

There, in the countryside, there was a little village all the way out that wasn’t even on the maps. Arriving, Yuji could feel all eyes on him. Not just because of his uniform, but because he was an unfamiliar face. Villages were like that, suspicious of outsiders and deeply superstitious.

His first stop was the world’s smallest little tea house. The only pastry it served was sitting in a small warming case. A chocolate croissant with little deers stamped on them, probably for kids. Yuji could remember seeing the same pastry on Gojo-sensei's desk after winter break. Buying two, he ordered quick tea to eat. There was no ‘to go’ option. That was not the sort of place it was. So he and Sukuna sipped and enjoyed hot and good tea with the two treats.

When he had finished eating, Yuji went to the counter and asked, “Excuse me, Tea maker-san. Do you know where the Nakagami family lives?”

The tea maker stiffened and glared at him. He was older, old enough that being rude would be forgiven, which was why he probably didn't even attempt to be polite.

“What do you want with them? Haven’t they been through enough?”

Yuji felt something sick in his stomach. “Ah– I– I was just hoping to visit. I know their daughter.”

Eyes dripping with suspicion, the tea maker scoffed, “If you know her then you should know her family home. Strangers bring nothing but grief around here.”

”She’s dead”

And there was something cold in Sukuna’s voice. Unfeeling. The way he spoke of things that could not be changed. Things that disappointed him utterly.

“Don't say that.”

Yet, even though Yuji refused to think about it—--the prison realm in his pocket like an anchor dragging him to the bottom of the sea—- he walked towards the graveyard.

It was large, the way old village grave yards tended to be. Well kept and loved. Generations of families keeping their ancestors' stones polished. A few had incense burning and Yuji wondered at all the ashes that had found their final resting place here in this quiet corner of the countryside.

The Nakagami family area was newer. Still old— only a generation or two— Yuji realized. They had been in Kyoto before that. At least, the main branch still was. Nara was the place the last with power in their blood had fled when their family cast off the Jujutsu world.

Yuji pulled the prison realm from his pocket and held softly, cradled in his hands like something he no longer knew what to do with. Idle in his hands as he stared at the grave stones. Camellias were scattered around the smallest stone right at the front. Evergreen and scentless. A small little stone with the name Michiko was engraved. The kanji combination for path of wisdom. 2001-2006.

She was five years old.

His grip on the prison realm was so tight his fingers felt like they might bleed, or he might tear it open by force. Whichever came first. All the air in his lungs had vanished and Yuji could feel himself getting sick, the warm tea in his stomach no longer comforting.

“So this was a bust,” Sukuna said apathetically. “He was thorough.”

“It wasn’t him!” Yuji snapped, gripping the cube in his hands, part of him wanted to throw it in the ocean and be rid of it. Because he couldn’t quite believe himself. There was only so much naivety in the world.

“Don’t lie to yourself. It’s unflattering.”

“He wouldn’t— Gojo-sensei— She was a kid!” Yuji could feel the tears in his eyes burning as he thought how empty his room was. Would Gojo-sensei's apartment be that way too? No dishes, and empty fridge? No life or Pokemon plushies and Digimon—-

It made him want to throw up thinking about it.

“He was a child too,” Sukuna reminded him, “Far less reasonable than he is as you know him.”

“But—”

“He is not your Six Eyes.”

Yuji covered his mouth with one hand and the tears burning in his eyes were blinding.

“Hey you! Asshole Sorcerer!”

Gripping the prison realm, Yuji whipped around towards the voice and found a woman. She was maybe Nanami’s age, if a little younger. It was striking how pretty she was, like an Idol or actress had suddenly walked off the movie screen and into this tiny village.

“What the hell do you want with my sister’s ashes?! Haven’t you monsters done enough to our family?!”

“Sister… are you Nakaga— Michiko-san’s sister?”

Violently the girl lobbed a snowball at them and Yuji only flinched because there was a rock in it.

“Get away from her grave, Sorcerer.” she demanded again.

Yuji glanced at the flowers, then at the cube in his hands. If he wanted answers, his only choice was to obey and follow her orders.

Once he was away from the Nakagami family grave site, Yuji tried to explain. “I’m sorry— I just— I heard there was a sorcerer who could absorb techniques. I could really use that.”

“She’s dead, you killed her.” Nakagami-san said viciously.

“I didn’t—”

“You might as well have. All of you are to blame for it.” she snapped accusingly.

Yuji kind of agreed with the way Sukuna rolled his eyes, but Yuji also tried to be sympathetic. He had to try at least.

“I was barely born when she died.”

Nakagami frowned, looked him up and down, then said, “There isn’t anything for you here. None of you deserve to even walk the same paths my sister did.”

Suddenly it was obvious, the pain that had obviously ripped this woman apart. The way her cracks ran deep, all the way into her soul. Grief only lasted as long as the love you had. And it seemed that Nakagami’s was neverending.

“Please, I—”

”Stop groveling. There isn’t anything here for us.” Sukuna drolled. Yuji ignored him.

“Gojo Satoru was sealed.” Yuji lifted the cube in offering, “Please. If you know anything…”

Suddenly Nakagami stiffened. Her bright eyes cleared and she wiped her tears.

“What? Gojo-san—- What happened?”

“He—” Yuji hesitated. Her reaction wasn’t— it wasn’t the reaction you had to a man who murdered your sister. “He’s in here. We need something to open it. Something that extinguishes techniques.”

Nakagami stared at them, eyes narrowed, weighing Yuji as best as she could with her eyes that could clearly see something. She wasn’t mundane, her cursed energy flowed too well for that. But she wasn’t strong either. Unless she was strong in the way Ijichi was. Being really good at one thing was nothing to scoff at and barriers were difficult.

Without saying anything, she motioned for them to follow. Yuji did so obediently and was led to a small home. It was old, but well kept. You could tell the people who lived there weren’t well off, but had pride in what they did have. In the back, there was a sprawling garden, and several camelia bushes bloomed there.

Nakagami Kyomi was her name. She was Ijichi-san’s age and did not attend Jujutsu Tech despite the fact she had enough cursed energy to be an assistant. Yuji didn’t judge her, not when it was merciless work. Sukuna judged her though.

She served him tea and Yuji sipped politely. His disgust from before still present, but fading from how Kyomi had reacted to him mentioning Gojo-sensei.

“You called him sensei?”

“Yeah, Gojo-sensei started teaching a few years ago,” Yuji replied.

”We’re wasting our time. You’re just attempting to absolve your idiot Six Eyes of some moral failing he didn’t even commit.”

“A teacher? That guy? He was the worst,” Kyomi snorted, “I thought about being a teacher for a while.”

“Cool.” Yuji tried not to be rude, “Gojo-sensei was kind of weird, but he was a good teacher when it mattered.”

“I’m sure that’s true for Jujutsu. I kind of feel bad for whoever had to take him on when he was getting his teaching certificate though.” Kyomi said wryly. Yuji winced imagining some mundane teacher having to put up with an even younger Gojo.

It was quiet for a moment. Kyomi stared into her tea like she was seeing things only she knew. Then– in a distant voice— she said, “He was mad. When she died. He let me scream and cry and hit him with her old training pole. Gojo-san was… I don’t know how to describe it.”

“Yeah,” Yuji nodded. He couldn’t imagine Gojo-sensei angry, not really. He never let himself get that way in front of his students.

“Gojo-san… he came here a few years ago. Just after she died.” Nakagami said slowly. Then shook her head, “I shouldn’t tell you this. Go away.”

“Please! I need to free him. He’ll be stuck in here forever if I don’t.” Yuji lifted the cube, and reached out. Grabbing her hand he pressed it to the prison realm. She was the only other person besides Sukuna he’d let touch it.

Immediately Nakagami gasped.

“You can feel him right? I need to help him.”

“He left something where her ashes were kept— but— I can’t promise anything. It was the last time I saw him… he told me never to tell anyone. Not unless he’d gone crazy.”

The stone was easy to pry open. Yuji hated that he was kind of descecrating a grave, but desperate times. Despite that, the whole time he was gloating.

“What did you say? We’re wasting our time here. Just accept Gojo-sensei is a monster and kills kids. Oh no, He’s a different Gojo and is willing to kill little babies and puppies! Get real.”

Sukuna was sulking and mentally flipping him off.

Inside the compartment, with an ornate urn, was a slim metal box. It seemed welded shut. Yuji had no issue slicing it open with a dismantle. The hard part was making sure he didn’t damage what was inside.

Once he’d liberated a side from the case, Yuji slide the contents out.

“Jackpot.”

“He’s a sentimental freak.”

In his hand was a map of Grand Canyon National Park in America with instruction on how to liberate the Inverted Spear of Heaven. Yuji grinned and gripped the map tightly.

“I think, maybe soulmates are real.”