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I always knew becoming a sorcerer had its fair share of danger; everyone knew that. It was ingrained into our minds before every mission we took on, every curse we fought. We were always prepared for death- sometimes even dressed for it. That was just the jujutsu way. It was part of our daily lives.
Even so, I never really knew how scary death was. This feeling of terror and utter despair must be it , I thought as I found Megumi.
Sukuna's domain expansion had mangled and destroyed all of the buildings in the area. Between the wreckage and throbbing pain in my thigh, it was difficult to find decent cover. Megumi and I were both carrying heavy injuries, mine admittedly worse since Sukuna had partially healed Megumi beforehand. I couldn't help but secretly thank him for that. It eased some of the stress to know that Megumi wasn't minutes away from dying in my arms. I paid no attention to the damage Sukuna caused- what mattered was that Megumi managed to stay alive.
He was slung over my shoulder as I attempted to carry him, though I was struggling to keep myself up on my own two feet. Really, it should be Megumi supporting me, not the other way around. But it's not like he could help it- he was unconscious.
We were both torn up as we trudged among the leftovers of the once glowing Shibuya. It was silent chaos. Not a breathing person was in sight. Occasionally, I stumbled on something that was neither rubble nor dirt. It was all I could do to look away from the dismembered body parts and keep moving.
I cursed under my breath for what seemed like the millionth time as I tripped on another large brick that my usually sharp eyes managed to skim over. Turning my body as I fell in slow motion, the side of my hip absorbed most of the impact. I winced but sucked up the pain. I couldn't let Megumi take more damage than he already had.
I laid there with Megumi toppled on my back for a while. My face was turned to the side. Underneath me was a rock that was sure to leave a scar as the sharp edge dug deeply into my cheek.
My mind wandered to my friends, who were undoubtedly fighting their asses off right now.
Knowing Itadori, he was probably beating himself up over Sukuna's rampage. I scoffed under my breath. Itadori, giving up in a moment like this? I knew he would pull through in the end. His mentality was as unbreakable as steel.
I prayed that the others were in a better state than Megumi and I were. Nobara and Maki had to be alright. I couldn't fathom the sight of them being beaten up with those cocky attitudes of theirs.
Somehow, the thought of their stubborn behavior gave me the strength to get up.
The top half of a nearby building had been torn off, but the lower part was still firmly stuck onto the ground. I slowly set Megumi down to lean against the still-intact wall, collapsing next to him as my legs finally let out. A long sigh escaped my breath as I did so. Exhaustion overwhelmed every muscle in me, and I was tempted to tumble into a fright-filled sleep. My body hopelessly tried to sink into the hard concrete wall, looking for some kind of comfort. I looked at Megumi who was still passed out.
His features were soft and relaxed even with blood lining the edges of the cuts on his face. Despite everything going on, it almost all crumbled away at the sight of Megumi's peaceful state. I leaned against him, resting my head on his shoulder while closing my eyes. To me, nothing else existed. It was just the two of us, sitting together on a bench at an empty park in the afternoon as the sun was beginning to set.
If only we could stay like this forever.
A sudden shock moves the ground below us, pieces of debris falling from buildings like hail. Flecks of dust and crushed stone land in my hair. My body tenses up as I felt the sudden presence of curses- a lot of them. I don't move; I didn't have the energy to.
I open my eyes again as they meet Megumi's newly opened ones. Seems like the curses woke him up. I blink the specks of dust out of my eyes, half-expecting Megumi to be looking elsewhere as I focus my vision back on him.
I always thought his eyes were the prettiest thing about him. Usually, they were an endless deep sea that anyone could spend days staring into. But under the sun, they were a light turquoise green. The building we were leaning against provided little protection against the setting sun. Oh, how beautiful they looked even as the world was plunging down a dark hole. They glistened in light like an emerald. His eyelashes were only second to them- always so full and elegant. Even in a moment like this, all I could think about was him.
We didn't move from our position. His eyes bore into mine as if he knew every single little thing about me. Neither of us says anything. I notice that small sliver of happiness pumping from my heart again. Guilt creeps into me. It felt horrible to be happy and carefree at this moment, but I couldn't control it. Was it so selfish of me to want him all to myself?
Breaking eye contact, I lift my head off of Megumi's shoulder and assess the disastrous situation I am already well aware of.
We were still in the middle of Shibuya and in no state to move no matter how much we pushed our wrecked bodies.
Shoko was nowhere to be seen. She had most likely left the area. It was dangerous for her to stay in the center of the action. Who knows how many people would die if she weren't here to heal them? Even if we somehow managed to find her, her hands were surely busy dealing with others first.
Unlike Shoko, Megumi and I were disposable. We could easily be replaced. Even Megumi's inherited Ten Shadows Technique wasn't all that valuable. The Zen'in clan would simply continue to pass it down to further generations. But there were only so many people who could use reverse cursed techniques.
So far, it wasn't looking too good for us.
Not to mention the overwhelming amount of curses that were nearing the two of us at each passing second.
Though neither of us said it, it was clear that our chances of survival were next to nothing.
I was ready to throw it all away.
The words were already on the tip of my tongue and I faced Megumi head-on, hands tensely pressing into the dirt ground. Looking straight at him, I parted my lips.
"Megumi," I whispered. His name felt so perfect as it left my lips. "Megumi," I croaked out, a bit louder even though I know he heard me the first time. It was more for me to enjoy the sound of his name.
"I like you, Megumi. I like you a lot."
The words rushed out of my mouth. Simple and straightforward. I didn't know whether I would live to the next sunrise, let alone see him again.
I've always wanted to tell Megumi how I felt about him, but I knew it was unrequited; one-sided. Still, the endless nights I used to spend making up scenarios flashed before my eyes.
On a rainy night in his dorm, the two of us silently reading our books as raindrops tattered against his window. Hands intertwined as we blushed behind the pages.
Laughing our hearts out at a lively diner after completing a mission together.
Both of us stretched out on the fresh grass after sparring, smiling as we gaze up into the cloudless sky.
Well, I never pictured that it would turn out like this.
Megumi roughly grabs my cheeks, splitting open some of the healing cuts on my face. The callouses on the palms of his hands scratch against my tender flesh as he tugs me even closer to him.
I don't feel any pain. All I feel is the overwhelming sensation of his lips burning against mine as they crash against each other in shambles. Strands of my hair are plastered in between our lips, and the taste of metallic blood is apparent. We're both tattered and broken, clinging onto the feeling of another human as curses fly out in every direction. I forcefully shut my eyes, blocking them out of my view.
I would hardly call the kiss romantic.
It's so unexpected. The countless scenarios I created ripped and burned away as they were replaced with the present. Megumi's usually calm demeanor was nowhere in sight. I guess facing death head-on did things to people .
My hands lift themselves off of the ground and wrap around Megumi's neck, dry dirt rubbing against his skin as I frantically try to get more of him. We gasp for air in unison, and I'm panting with shallow breaths. Megumi mutters my name in between breaths before he kisses me again, and I lean into his touch. I run my fingers through his hair, pressing him deeper into the kiss as my hand snakes around to the back of his head.
I wasn't going to deny it- I was taking advantage of the situation. Using the horrible circumstances to satisfy my greed. Who wouldn't kiss the person in front of them as the world tore apart?
I didn't care if he was doing it out of pity, or desperation.
It didn't matter. None of it mattered if we were going to die in mere seconds. It felt so right. So why not just take it as it is?
We were pawing at each other's skin, trying to feel more of each other. I needed the reassurance that he was there in front of me, that this wasn't just a figment of my imagination. The reassurance that I wasn't going to die alone.
At this point, the curses were surrounding us like a horseshoe. I forgot how terrifying they could be when they bunched up in numbers.
We don't bother defending ourselves or getting into a fighting stance. It's a mutual understanding. Our willpower had run out a long time ago. The numbness in our bodies had disappeared and instead pain had set in. We could barely stand up, let alone battle the millions of curses passing by into the open world. We were in no state to fight back anymore.
This was reality, and there was nothing either of us could do about it.
We had abandoned our status as sorcerers the second our lips came in contact with each other. My obligation to complete my duty was non-existent. I don't bother lingering on emotions like regret, or failure.
Megumi grips me harder, forcing me to look at him and him only. I'm thankful for it, as I hardly notice the curses jumping at us as one, the light from the sunset soon blocked out by their dark shapes.
Nothing seemed real. Even as the curses enveloped us, all I saw was Megumi.