Chapter Text
The sky painted a mesmerizing array of orange and pink as the sun began its descent. Yuuta sat outside, his back against one of the pillars of the Jujutsu High entrance. A part of him realized that staying out this late wasn’t smart, yet the importance of meeting with Toge tethered him to that spot. They had made plans, and even though plans were always tentative when a mission came up; they were still important to Yuuta and he wanted to be here when Toge got home.
Suddenly, the distinctive sound of footsteps approached from behind. Maki sauntered over, twirling a kunai knife between her fingers, her sharp eyes watching Yuuta's anxious form.
"Waiting for someone?" she teased, a playful smirk on her face.
Yuuta shifted; a tad uncomfortable under Maki's piercing gaze. "Toge should be back by now.” He replied, trying to keep his voice nonchalant.
Maki, never one to pass up an opportunity to tease, leaned in, her eyebrow raised mischievously. "You've got it bad, don't you? A crush on our little Toge?"
Yuuta sputtered, taken aback, cheeks coloring just a tad. "What?! No, Toge's just a friend. My best friend, actually. This is totally normal, to wait for someone like this."
Maki chuckled, tilting her head as she observed Yuuta. "Oh, come on. You're not fooling anyone, especially not me. I see the way you look at him, so fondly, it's like he hung the moon and stars just for you."
Yuuta's cheeks flared a deeper shade of red, the early evening breeze doing nothing to cool him down. "That's ridiculous," he mumbled, trying to appear nonchalant, even as his heart raced. "He's a teammate, someone I trust with my life. Of course, I'd look at him fondly."
She nudged him playfully with her elbow. "Alright, alright, I believe you," she drawled, though her playful smirk said otherwise. "Just don't wait too long. It's getting chilly, and dinner won't wait for either of you."
Maki's teasing smile had barely faded from her lips when the unexpected sound of laughter wafted through the air, making both her and Yuuta pause. The laughter was light, genuine, and undeniably Toge's. Yuuta's heart picked up its pace, a mix of relief and anxiety.
The two of them exchanged puzzled glances and followed the sound, turning a corner. The sight before them was the last thing either of them expected.
Toge, being carried piggyback style by... Noritoshi Kamo?
"Well, that's something you don't see every day!" Maki commented, her eyebrows raised in amusement.
Yuuta felt a complex knot of emotions tighten in his chest. Relief that Toge was safe, confusion at the unlikely pairing, and a twinge of jealousy that he would never admit to. The sight before him raised so many questions. What had happened on the mission? How did they end up like this?
Yuuta remembered Kamo—he was the Blood Manipulation sorcerer from Kyoto, and they had met at the Goodwill event during Yuuta's first year. The same reason why Kamo and the other Kyoto student were on the grounds currently. I could understand Toge and Kamo knowing each other, but for them to be this close…
Toge, sensing their presence, looked up and caught Yuuta's eye. He grinned, the earlier laughter still dancing in his gaze. "Yuuta!" he called out; he also offered a cheerful wave to Maki.
As Maki, Yuuta, and the duo converged, Maki's curiosity got the best of her. "How did the mission go?" she asked. Eyes flickering between Yuuta, Toge and Kamo.
Yuuta had grown a lot during his time away in Africa, but somehow Kamo was still slightly taller than him, because of course he is.
His gaze fixed unwaveringly on Toge, who was still comfortably perched on Kamo's back, an arm languidly draped over the taller man's shoulder. The sight was oddly intimate, and it gnawed at Yuuta, his feelings ambiguous and hard to pinpoint, but also screaming at him.
Lost in his musing, Yuuta barely registered Kamo's voice, which was steady and matter-of-fact. "Toge was evading a curse, using a series of backflips. He misjudged a patch of ground and it turned out to be slippery. He's alright, likely just rolled his ankle. He will need to keep weight off of it for a while."
“Shake!” Toge, seemingly oblivious to the tension, nodded in agreement with Kamo's explanation.
Yuuta, in an attempt to regain some semblance of control over his rattled emotions, stepped closer. “Thanks for the help, Kamo, but I can take Toge from here,” he offered, striving to keep his voice casual.
But Kamo simply shook his head. “I’m already here, and I already have him. Plus, it's not like he's heavy,” he replied with a nonchalant shrug. “I’ll drop him off with Shoko, then be on my way.”
The refusal stung more than Yuuta cared to admit, leaving him to grapple silently with the mix of frustration, jealousy, and powerlessness boiling within him. Toge seemed content, maybe even too content in Kamo’s hold, and that didn’t sit well with him.
It felt like a subtle intrusion into the dynamic he shared with Toge, an unwelcome reminder of the relationships Toge might have outside of their friendship.
Maki, always observant, let her gaze flit between the now retreating pair and Yuuta. She noticed his preoccupation and couldn't help but smirk, entertained by the unexpected twinge of jealousy she saw in Yuuta's eyes.
Yuuta blinked, still processing the bizarre twist to the evening. He felt Maki's elbow nudge his side gently, and he glanced at her. Her smirk was back, and she whispered, "Looks like you've got competition."
With a sigh, Yuuta nudged her back, silently communicating that now was not the time. As the evening continued, Yuuta was sure he would get the full story, but for now, he was just grateful to have Toge back—even if their dinner plans did just get cancelled.
Maki grabbed Yuuta’s wrist and dragged him in the other direction, the direction of the cafeteria., She shot Yuuta an amused glance, her lips curling into a playful smirk. “Awe, is someone cranky?”
“I'm not upset, it's not a big deal,” Yuuta huffed defensively, his gaze averting from hers. His voice was trying hard to remain casual, but there was a tension in the set of his shoulders, and tightness around his eyes. And then his brows furrowed again, his thoughts involuntarily wandering back to the scene they had just left.
The image of Toge's legs swinging playfully, almost frivolously, while Kamo's hands were wrapped around him, supporting him.
Maki sighed. It would be so nice if Yuuta could just acknowledge the feelings he clearly had for Toge. They both had been through so much; they deserved a bit of happiness. However, for that to happen, Yuuta needed to open his eyes and see what was right in front of him.
Maki reached out to stop Yuuta, placing a hand on his shoulder and stepping closer. Yuuta's eyes widened slightly, a tinge of vulnerability showing through at her direct approach. Then, without warning, she flicked his forehead hard, indifferent to his sharp yelp of surprise and pain.
“You really don't have anything to worry about, Yuuta," she reassured with firm conviction. "Anyone with eyes can see that Toge is into you.”
Yuuta blinked, absorbing her words. A flicker of hope ignited in his eyes, but the stubborn uncertainty refused to be extinguished completely.
“Don’t be ridiculous, we’re just friends, Maki.” Yuuta said defensively, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Whaaa-- 'We’re just friends, Maki'?" she mimicked, drawing out the words in a singsong voice.
"Come on, Maki, it's not that simple," Yuuta replied, his voice a tad shaky, betraying his inner turmoil.
Maki arched an eyebrow, her discerning gaze analyzing him closely. "What's so complicated? You like him. You tell him. He'll fall for you. End of story."
But it wasn't just about admitting feelings. Yuuta's past was a testament to the power and danger of his emotions. His love was like a double-edged sword; it could heal, but it could also harm. The intensity of his feelings, the depth of his love, was something he was both proud of and fearful of.
Yuuta had always felt things with an intensity few could fathom. When he loved, he loved deeply, fiercely, all-consuming. It was a passionate flame that burned too bright and sometimes too hot. To many, it could be seen as an admirable trait, but to Yuuta, it was a curse.
"I don't want to hurt him, Maki. Not intentionally, not unintentionally. What if I end up doing something... What if my love becomes a curse for him too?" His voice broke, the raw vulnerability evident.
Maki sighed, tightening her grip on Yuuta's shoulder. "Look, every relationship has its risks. But you can't let your past dictate your future. You're not the same person you were back then. You've grown, learned. And Toge is not Rika. He's his own person, with his own strengths."
Yuuta looked up, locking eyes with Maki. "I just don't want to be the reason he suffers."
Maki offered a small smile. "Love is a risk, Yuuta. But it's also a reward. And sometimes, it's worth taking that leap of faith. Just... trust yourself a little more."
His emotions were vast oceans, with depths that even he couldn't always fathom. They often felt uncontrollable, overwhelming, like a storm he couldn't rein in.
The dark side of this intensity was evident in the way his love sometimes manifested. It wasn't just passionate; it could be possessive, smothering, even destructive. In his desperate attempts to hold onto what he loved, he sometimes ended up suffocating it, like a child squeezing a pet too tightly.
His past was marred by moments where his overwhelming love had led to inadvertent pain. The weight of Rika's curse was a stark reminder. The way he had clung to her, the way he had inadvertently bound her spirit to him, was a testament to the dangers of his unchecked emotions.
Who would want to be ensnared in that? Who would willingly step into a storm that even its bearer couldn’t predict? These were the questions that haunted Yuuta’s nights. He was afraid of becoming a cage, trapping those he loved in his overbearing emotions. The idea that his love could be a prison, that it could bring harm to someone he cherished, terrified him.
It wasn't just about his romantic relationships. His friendships, too, felt the strain of his intensity. He sometimes caught himself being overly protective, struggling to let go and let his friends live their lives without his interference. Every time he felt that surge of overwhelming emotion, he had to take a step back, breathe, and remind himself not to let it consume him or those around him.
As he grappled with these feelings, the fear of driving Toge away was always at the forefront of his mind. Toge, who had become such an integral part of his life, could he bear the brunt of Yuuta's intense emotions? Would he be another victim of Yuuta's overzealous affection?
Yuuta desperately wished to find a balance, a way to express his love without it turning destructive. He didn't want his emotions to be a burden, a potential harm. He yearned for a love that was supportive, nurturing, and free from the shackles of his past. But the journey to finding that balance was filled with uncertainty and self-doubt.
Yuuta was at a loss for words. He stared at Maki, his mouth agape slightly, searching for a rebuttal. But before he could formulate one, Maki grabbed his wrist and tugged him forward.
“Enough of this sappy stuff," she exclaimed. "Let’s go get some food. I’m starving.”
Yuuta allowed himself to be pulled along, the warmth of Maki's reassurance settling in. Maki might tease him mercilessly, but she was genuine about the things that mattered.
They made their way to the cafeteria, the sounds and scents of dinner wafting in the air. Yuuta's stomach rumbled, and he realized just how hungry he was.
The night continued with laughter and banter, but Yuuta's eyes glistened with unshed tears as his heart held tight onto Maki's words. Her words attempted to provide a semblance of comfort, but the fear, the doubt, lingered. However, deep down, he knew he couldn't let his past paralyze him forever. He had to move forward, even if it meant facing the unknown.
Maybe, just maybe, she was onto something.
The Kyoto school's visit for the Goodwill Event is all that has been talked about for the past week, but for Yuuta, it comes with mixed emotions. As the two groups mingle, bicker, and catch up with one another, Yuuta scours the campus grounds, and it doesn’t take long to find who he is looking for, and also, who he isn’t looking for. Kamo has already found Toge. Of course, he has, Yuuta thinks, an inexplicable knot of irritation tightening in his stomach.
For a moment, the scene played out in front of him in slow motion: Kamo's fingers brushing Toge's shoulder, lingering with an intimacy Yuuta couldn't quite place. The two of them looked engrossed in a deep conversation, their expressions a mix of seriousness and an odd kind of camaraderie.
That simple gesture stirred something in Yuuta, a possessiveness he hadn’t realized he harbored. His hand clenched involuntarily, and his gaze hardened. Kamo's hand lingered, fingers curling a fraction more around the curve of Toge's shoulder.
It was hard for Yuuta to make out the exact words, but their conversation seemed casual, light. What was more unsettling was the way Kamo was behaving. There was an unmistakable intimacy in his body language, an ease of interaction that Yuuta wasn’t used to seeing from him.
Yuuta is happy for Toge, truly, he is. Everyone deserves friends, and it is good for Toge to have connections beyond their tight-knit group. But out of everyone in Kyoto to draw closer to, why does it have to be Kamo– who seems to overshadow him in every way? With his confident stature, one of the only students taller than Yuuta. Then there is his hair, well-kept and always styled, a vivid contrast to Yuuta’s more disheveled locks.
And as if the physical contrasts aren’t enough, Kamo speaks with a fluency and eloquence that seems to come from another world. Each word is chosen with care, each sentence constructed with precision, leaving Yuuta feeling like a clumsy intruder in the world of words with his stutters and mistakes.
Every time Kamo spoke, every time his vast knowledge of the jujutsu world effortlessly spilled from his lips, Yuuta felt the weight of his own ignorance. Yuuta might be one of the strongest, but strength alone didn’t grant him the depth of understanding that came with years, no, generations of experience. He was a newcomer in this intricate world, constantly playing catch-up.
And what gnawed at Yuuta even more than his own lack of knowledge was the connection he saw between Kamo and Toge. The world they hailed from, of prestigious clans and deep-rooted traditions, was something he could never truly understand. Yuuta felt like an outsider, peeking into a room where he wasn’t welcome. The shared glances, the subtle nods, the inside jokes... every interaction between Kamo and Toge seemed like a glaring reminder of what he lacked.
It was more than just envy. It was a deep-seated fear of being left out of Toge's life, of being rendered obsolete. What if Toge and Kamo had more in common than he realized? What if Toge preferred Kamo's knowledgeable company over his?
Every laugh, every shared moment between them made that jealousy bubble up, casting a shadow over Yuuta's usually rational mind. He didn't want to feel this way, but he couldn't help it. The world of clans, of legacy, was so intertwined with Toge's identity, and Yuuta felt a pang of sorrow every time he realized how little he knew about it.
Yuuta runs a self-conscious hand through his own hair at the thought, feeling inadequate. He tries to remind himself that it isn't a competition, but the sight of Toge laughing at something Kamo has said makes that difficult to believe.
Despite all these feelings, Yuuta makes a conscious decision to seem unaffected by Kamo’s proximity to Toge.
It doesn’t last long, however. As he gets closer, a wave of possessiveness sweeps over Yuuta, prompting him to act on impulse. He slides an arm around Toge's waist, pulling him closer until he leans against Yuuta's side. Toge, momentarily stunned by the unexpected intimacy, pauses, his hands mid-sentence, his eyes rising to meet Yuuta's.
Deep, vibrant lilac eyes stared at him, awash with curiosity. There was no trace of annoyance or tension, just the pure intent of being there, in that moment, with Yuuta. For a friend. This was the look of a true friend, someone who was there through thick and thin, through all the highs and lows.
He can only imagine the thoughts running through Toge’s head; They have shared closeness during movie nights, enveloped in the cozy darkness of late-night exhaustion– sure, but such public displays are far from their norm.
His emotions threatened to overflow, words teetering on the edge of his lips. But to say something now, something rash, might ruin everything. Confessing feelings like "Toge, I have feelings for you" or "I want you always by my side" might shatter the closeness they’ve developed, leaving Yuuta all alone again.
Yuuta's mind raced with potential reactions from Toge. The horrifying thought of Toge recoiling, pushing him away, or even gravitating more towards Kamo, consumed him. Despite the discussion with Maki, that was a gamble Yuuta wasn't sure he was ready to take.
Lost in thought, Yuuta almost missed the brief contemplative pause Toge took, which lasted no more than a heartbeat or two. But then, a blush, vibrant and telling, bloomed across Toge's cheeks.
Almost instinctively, and with subtle ease, he leans into Yuuta, finding solace in the proximity. Redirecting his gaze to Kamo, he continued their conversation as if enveloped in Yuuta's embrace was the most ordinary thing in the world.
Hours later; late afternoon had begun to creep in, casting long, stretching shadows across the vast terrain. At the South end, the remnants of vanquished curses lay scattered. Yuuta, after taking down another fierce adversary, used the grass to wipe off the cursed remnants from his blade.
Despite his fatigue, his senses remained sharp. The energy emanating from nearby curses acted like a beacon, guiding him. Pinpointing the nearest concentration of cursed energy, Yuuta sprang into action.
As Yuuta deftly navigates the terrain, he spotted an unassuming structure partially obscured by thickets, looking like a safehouse. Strategically positioned for participants needing brief respite or to lay low.
“I hope Toge has the sense to avoid the denser trees,” Yuuta overheard Maki’s voice, the timbre of concern clear in her tone. As he peered through the foliage, he saw Megumi extending a shadowy arm to her, producing another weapon.
“When I sprinted through that area, I spotted these talismans. I think they might counteract any cursed techniques. Toge really needs some weapons training,” Maki continued, her voice filled with a mix of worry and frustration.
"Daggers, perhaps?" Megumi pondered.
Maki responded, her voice thoughtful, "I do think he'd excel with projectile weapons, but I wouldn't want him juggling having to replenish both his supplies and his technique."
Yuuta missed Megumi’s reply, focusing on his own path. He launched himself upwards, catching a sturdy branch and propelling in a Westward direction. With Maki and Megumi on the ground, it made strategic sense for him to assume a vantage position, steering clear from any adversaries who might excel in close combat. Right now, his priority was locating the Grade 1 curse and neutralizing before Kyoto did, to get Tokyo an extra 20 points in one go.
It wasn't stationary though; it was on the move. Hesitating for just a fraction of a second, he felt the shift in energy grow more distinct and headed further into the woods.
As he delved deeper into the woods, the sounds of the other participants faded, replaced by the whispering wind and the occasional cry of a distant bird. But above all these natural sounds, Yuuta could hear it – the low, ominous thrum of the curse’s energy.
He quickened his pace, branches and leaves brushing against him as he darted through the trees. The Grade 1 curse wasn’t close, and Yuuta had to move quickly if he was determined to confront it head-on.
Suddenly, an eerie sensation prickled the back of his neck, and Yuuta's instincts screamed at him to stop. He barely registered the soft whistle of an arrow cutting through the air behind him, its path unnaturally straight and aimed with deadly precision.
Without a second thought, Yuuta lifted up his toes from the branch he was perched on, allowing gravity to pull him towards the earth below. As he descended, he finally catches a glimpse of the arrow, the tip glowing faintly with the blood of cursed energy. But instead of flying past the space Yuuta had just vacated, the arrow began to curve downward, following him.
Yuuta's heart raced. He'd barely touched the ground when he drew his katana in one swift motion, bracing himself for the oncoming missile. The arrow, pulsing with supernatural force, met the steel of his blade with a fierce intensity. With a crisp snap, the arrow shattered upon impact, its remnants scattering into the air as Yuuta stood resolute, katana gleaming.
“Kamo.”
The forest returned to its quiet stillness, but Yuuta remained alert, gripping his katana and scanning the trees for Kamo. Their friendly competition had just taken an unexpected turn, and Yuuta would be lying if he had said he wasn’t excited about it.
Kamo wasted no time, drawing an arrow and imbuing it with the blood of his cursed technique. The arrowhead glowed a deep, menacing red and, with a swift release, it zoomed towards Yuuta. But it wasn't a straightforward shot; Kamo guided the arrow with his blood, making it zigzag unpredictably.
Yuuta, with a swiftness only matched by his skill, dodged and parried with his katana, deflecting the arrow into the ground. But this was just a warm-up.
The archer nocked another arrow, its glow intensified by the imbued energy. As Yuuta braced for the next attack, he couldn't help but remember the countless times he'd witnessed Kamo and Toge, both from prestigious clans, sharing quiet moments of understanding. Their innate bond, stemming from a deep-seated knowledge of the jujutsu life, was something Yuuta felt excluded from. A surge of envy gripped him; he yearned to be Toge's closest confidant, the one who shared those unspoken moments. Tightening his grip on the katana, his foot slid in the dirt beneath him. His stance betrayed his inner turmoil.
Yuuta charged at Kamo, hoping to close the distance and minimize the archer's advantage. Kamo, always one step ahead, launched an arrow straight into the ground in front of Yuuta. It burst upon impact, releasing a splash of Cursed Blood that attempted to bind Yuuta's feet.
Almost caught, Yuuta leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the snare. As he descended, he slashed with his katana, aiming it straight at Kamo.
Kamo deftly sidestepped, using his bow as a makeshift staff to block and parry Yuuta's aggressive strikes. The two danced a deadly dance, blades and bow clashing, neither gaining the upper hand.
But Yuuta's strikes became progressively fiercer, his envy making him forget this was a friendly match. One swing came too close, slicing a cut on Kamo's arm. Blood dripped, but instead of showing pain, Kamo's eyes gleamed with newfound power.
Using his own blood, he guided another arrow directly at Yuuta, weaving it around Yuuta's defenses. Caught off guard, Yuuta took a glancing blow to his side.
Both panted heavily, sweat dripping down their foreheads.
Caught up in his emotions and the desperate need to prove himself, Yuuta missed Kamo's next move. The arrow, guided by Kamo's own blood, darted towards him with uncanny precision. Before Yuuta could fully react, the arrow found its mark, gashing deeply into his side. Pain seared through him, making his vision blur momentarily.
Both of them, fueled by adrenaline and emotion, paused to catch their breaths, their chests heaving, sweat dripping down their foreheads.
From Yuuta's actions, Kamo began to discern the true nature of their spar from his perspective. He slowly lowered his weapon, the weight of understanding heavy between them. Their eyes met in a silent exchange, with Kamo's gaze piercing and unwavering. "Have you forgotten what our objective is?" he questioned, his lips pressed together tightly, his voice tinged with both concern and disappointment.
A pang of realization struck Yuuta—the Grade 1 curse. Guilt flashed across Yuuta's face. In his fervor to best Kamo, he had indeed lost sight of their primary mission. The realization hit him hard, the weight of his misplaced priorities bearing down on him.
As Yuuta grappled with his realizations, Kamo's stern expression transformed into a sly grin. He had masterfully played his cards, getting Yuuta so tangled in his own emotions that he was mentally off-balance. Yuuta was exactly where Kamo wanted him: vulnerable and distracted.
With a swift motion, Kamo reached into his pocket, retrieving a blood pack. He broke it open, letting the potent liquid inside amplify his powers. Without wasting another moment, he launched a fierce attack, capitalizing on Yuuta's momentary lapse in focus.
The game had truly begun.
The blood coalesced into a myriad of razor-sharp tendrils, each one pulsating with cursed energy and aimed directly at Yuuta.
Yuuta's eyes widened as the tendrils shot towards him. The shock of Kamo's unexpected move rendered him momentarily still. He'd genuinely believed Kamo was attempting to reset the match, realigning their intentions. But this sudden onslaught made it clear: Kamo was here to win, no matter what it took.
But what was he trying to win? Just the spar? Was this battle truly just between the two of them? Or was Kamo, like Yuuta, deeply invested in their platinum blonde companion and fighting to eliminate the competition?
Yuuta mentally chastised himself for letting his guard down. He hadn't expected Kamo to play dirty by distracting him like that. It was a strategic move, one that showed Kamo's cunning and understanding of psychological warfare.
Snapping back to the present, Yuuta mustered his focus. He would need every ounce of his skills and intuition to navigate this unexpected challenge. The dance of combat had shifted, and Yuuta now found himself on the defense.
The attacks moved towards him with such speed and precision, each one attempting to ensnare or pierce him. He barely managed to deflect the first few with his katana, the force of the impact sending shockwaves down his arm.
Dodging and weaving, Yuuta tried to regain his footing and predict the trajectory of the blood tendrils. But Kamo's control was impeccable, guiding the tendrils like extensions of his own limbs. One tendril grazed Yuuta's cheek, leaving a stinging cut in its wake.
Yuuta gritted his teeth, the tang of his own blood a sharp reminder of his vulnerability. He knew that each second he spent on the defensive was a second closer to being overwhelmed. He had to find an opening, a brief lapse in Kamo's focus.
Yet, every move Yuuta made was anticipated, countered. It was like a high-speed dance, and Yuuta was perpetually a beat behind.
A sudden feint from Kamo sent a tendril scorching across Yuuta's shoulder, ripping through his clothes and embedding the searing pain into his flesh. He staggered, disoriented. Before he could recover, two more tendrils wrapped around his ankles, attempting to pull him off balance.
It was then that Kamo's voice, dripping with mocking amusement, broke through the frenzied rhythm of their battle. "I thought you'd be better at this, Special Grade." He chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with a mix of triumph and condescension.
Yuuta, with a surge of determination and pride, tightened his grip on his katana. He wasn't done, not by a long shot. But for now, he had to admit, Kamo had the upper hand.
Realizing that defense alone wouldn't suffice, Yuuta began to channel his own energy, preparing to counterattack. As another tendril lunged, he sidestepped, slicing it in half with a swift katana strike. But for every tendril he cut down, two more seemed to take its place.
Kamo, eyes gleaming with anticipation, kept up the pressure, manipulating the cursed blood to test Yuuta's limits. It was a dance of offense and defense, with both combatants pushing their skills to the edge.
Kamo, sensing Yuuta's increasing determination, intensified his onslaught, merging several tendrils to create larger, more forceful whips of blood. They cracked through the air, lashing at Yuuta with a deadly precision.
Yuuta, in turn, became a blur of movement. His katana danced and spun, deflecting and slashing through the tendrils. Every stroke he made was with a renewed purpose, not just to deflect, but to push back.
The surroundings became a witness to their fierce combat. Trees bore scars from missed strikes, and the ground was marred with splatters of blood and indents from their footwork.
Soon, Yuuta began to predict Kamo's movements, using his understanding of his opponent's tactics against him.
With a sudden burst of speed, Yuuta closed the distance between them. Before Kamo could react, Yuuta feinted to the left and then swiftly moved right, knocking Kamo off balance. Seizing the opportunity, he disarmed Kamo and had him pinned to the ground, katana raised for a decisive blow.
But just as Yuuta was about to strike and declare his victory, a deafening explosion echoed from a distance. The ground trembled, and an overwhelming force of energy hit them. Both Yuuta and Kamo were thrown off their feet, sent hurtling through the underbrush. The world became a chaotic whirl of green and brown as they crashed through bushes, their momentum only halted by the unforgiving trunks of trees.
Dazed and disoriented, Yuuta took a moment to gather himself, their spar momentarily forgotten in the wake of the unexpected interruption.
The shockwaves from the explosion had subsided, but a lingering resonance echoed within Yuuta. It felt as if every fiber of his being had been realigned, a gnawing sensation within urging him to move, to flee, to escape the looming danger.
The world around him seemed to blur as a distinct, chilling realization washed over him. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to pay attention, and then, in the midst of the dissonance, he picked up on a distant, yet unmistakable sound.
Toge.
It was a cry Yuuta had never heard before, laden with raw pain and desperation. Without a second thought, Yuuta pushed himself off the ground and bolted in the direction of the scream, driven by an overwhelming need to protect.
He immediately sheathed his katana, the metallic sound echoing his resolve. The spar, the rivalry with Kamo — it was all insignificant now. The urgency to find Toge dwarfed everything else.
Without sparing a glance back at Kamo, Yuuta's feet pounded the forest floor, barely registering the underbrush and obstacles in his path. His movements were instinctive, honed from his training, allowing him to bypass any barriers without a second thought.
The intensity of Toge's scream amplified with every step Yuuta took, each gasp and sob a testament to the pain he was enduring. It felt as if a vice grip had tightened around Yuuta's heart, every strained breath from Toge twisting it further.
Rounding a dense thicket, Yuuta's eyes immediately took in the haunting scene. Toge lay at the center of a clearing, his body contorted in pain, every muscle taut. Off in the distance, hanging from the trees in a vast circumference, was a talisman. Their presence cast an eerie glow, each one pulsating with an unsettling energy.
Yuuta's mind raced, connecting the dots. He recalled overhearing Maki and Megumi's conversation about specific talismans designed to reverse a cursed technique upon its caster. Toge must have invoked his Cursed Speech while within the confines of the circle, triggering the talisman's effect and turning his own power against him.
Terror and regret washed over Yuuta. Toge's most formidable weapon, his voice, had become his very own nightmare.
The scene was heart-wrenching. Toge, always the epitome of calm and composed, was sprawled on the ground, his back contorted in an agonizing arch. The way his spine curved was almost inhuman, each vertebrae seeming to push against his skin, begging for release from the torment. His fingers, once used for precise and deliberate speech, were now clawing desperately at his own throat, leaving behind deep, bloody grooves.
The feedback loop was cruel in its simplicity. The very cursed energy Toge emitted in pain was being ricocheted back to him, amplifying his suffering and causing him to release even more energy. It was a nightmarish cycle, each scream inducing more agony, and every surge of pain eliciting another scream.
Yuuta's status as a Special Grade sorcerer was not something he often wore with pride or flaunted. It came with its own set of challenges and expectations. However, in this moment, he was profoundly grateful for the power and resilience it granted him. The dense, suffocating atmosphere that encircled Toge, full of cursed energy rebounding with every scream, was something only a handful in the jujutsu world could withstand.
Drawing closer to Toge, each step felt like trudging through thick mud, the cursed energy pushing back against him, urging him to retreat. But Yuuta's determination and raw power allowed him to breach this formidable barrier. Lesser sorcerers would've been overwhelmed, possibly even harmed, by the sheer force of the curse. The fact that Toge was alone in this clearing spoke volumes. The last person who had encountered this scene, presumably his previous opponent, must've been force to flee in haste.
Yuuta's brow furrowed in determination. He needed to break this cycle, to free Toge from this hellish loop.
Yuuta's heart constricted as he dropped to his knees beside Toge. Seeing his friend's eyes, usually so piercing and observant, now wide and bloodshot, was almost too much to bear. The streaks of blood that flowed down his cheeks mixed with his tears like a grotesque painting of his torment.
The atmosphere was thick with cursed energy, suffocating in its intensity. Yuuta could feel the weight of it pressing down on him, making each breath a labor. Every instinct he had screamed at him to flee, to escape. But Yuuta would not, could not, leave Toge in this state. No matter what.
The situation was chaotic.
Every second mattered as Yuuta tried to restrain Toge while simultaneously attempting to shield him from his own cursed energy. The raw power emanating from Toge was erratic and intense, making it difficult for Yuuta to maintain a solid grip.
Yuuta's hand instantly went to cover Toge's mouth, attempting to muffle the gut-wrenching screams and halt the deadly feedback loop. But with Toge's hands viciously clawing at his own throat, it became a dangerous game of priority.
Yuuta grunted, using his forearm to wedge between Toge's hands and neck, hoping to prevent further injury. His other hand continued to hold Toge's mouth shut, but it wasn't easy. Toge's body convulsed with raw pain and the urge to vocalize it, his muscles straining against Yuuta's firm grasp.
Yuuta's eyes darted around, searching desperately for a solution. The talismans hanging from the trees around them were obviously the cause of this cursed feedback loop. He had to get rid of them. But how?
He needed to think fast. Every moment that passed with Toge in this state was agonizing, time was not on their side, and nobody was going to come help them.
In his desperation, clarity suddenly struck him. "Oh, for fuck's sake— Rika!"
The world around them seemed to darken momentarily as the massive presence of Rika manifested. The ethereal, monstrous form of the curse towered over them both, her physical appearance a stark contrast to the tender concern evident in her voice. As she began to drift around Yuuta and Toge, it became clear she wasn't affected by Toge's cursed energy the way Yuuta was.
Indeed, Rika was in a league of her own, the Queen of Curses.
"Yuuta," Rika responded, her voice deep and resonant, sharing none of the urgency that Yuuta felt. She circled the pair, and paused when her gaze landed on Toge, a softness entering her otherwise fierce voice. "Toge?" Rika cooed softly, she leaned down, reaching out with a delicacy that contrasted with her monstrous form, her claws inches away from brushing Toge's dirt-streaked hair.
But before she could make contact, Yuuta's voice cut through her intentions, desperate and commanding, redirecting her attention. "Rika, we’re going to help Toge, okay? Around us there are like… pieces of paper? They’re talismans. They’re attached to trees. I think they're all attached to trees?”
Yuuta tried to recall the exact location of the talisman that had caught his attention earlier. He quickly scanned the clearing, squinting and straining his eyes to catch even the faintest glint of the talisman amidst the dense foliage. His heart sank as he realized that the specific talisman he had noticed upon entering the clearing had now been obscured by fallen leaves right where he sat.
“I'm not entirely sure? But They're pretty close by. You're going to destroy them, destroy them all, Rika! Go. Save Toge!"
“Destroy talismans. Save Toge!” Without hesitation, Rika's words sharpened with understanding and determination, her monstrous form moving quickly now, and with surprising agility as she disappeared from sight.
Yuuta's head throbbed. He was pretty sure that the shrill echoes of Toge's agonized cries were going to be imprinted on his mind forever. Desperation driving his movements, he acted swiftly. He grappled with Toge's hands, prying them away from his wounded throat. Yuuta's own hand replaced them, channeling RCT to heal the deep gashes, feeling the rawness of Toge's skin under his palm, blood wet between his fingers.
But the healing, as necessary as it was, wasn't enough to stop the convulsions that wracked Toge's body. Yuuta's other hand pressed onto Toge's chest, forcefully pushing him onto the forest floor. The sickening sound of Toge's back colliding with the ground echoed in the clearing, and for a brief moment, Yuuta could see the hurt and confusion in Toge's eyes before they clouded with pain again.
"I won't let you go," he rasped, his own throat feeling raw in this moment, his voice filled with a mix of determination and pain. "Not until you're safe."
As Toge's chest heaved, trying to gather the breath that had been knocked out of him, Yuuta realized that the cycle of torment was about to resume. He couldn't let Toge scream like that, not again. Without thinking, acting purely on the impulse to comfort and protect, Yuuta covered Toge's mouth with his own, muffling the imminent screams, their foreheads pressed together, sharing the anguish.
Toge's resistance was fierce, every muscle in his body tensed and working against Yuuta's hold. The desperation in his movements was clear; he wanted to be free from this nightmare. His fingers clutched at Yuuta's wrist, nails digging into the skin. Each movement was a silent plea to be let go, to find an escape from the cycle of pain.
Yuuta's heart ached, feeling every bit of Toge's anguish. He strengthened his grip, pinning Toge's writhing form beneath him. Toge's eyes, usually so sharp and determined, were filled with a mix of pain, confusion, and pleading. His legs, kicking and scraping the ground, showed how desperately he wanted to flee from this torment.
In the distance, the sound of ripping paper and the faint sizzle of curses being neutralized echoed. Rika was doing her part, and soon, this nightmare would be over. Yuuta just needed to hold on a little longer, and he was determined to do just that for Toge's sake.
It wasn’t enough, Toge needed more.
The warmth from Yuuta's hand intensified as the healing energy coursed through Toge's skin. The chaotic heartbeat beneath his palm began to regulate, though it still pounded with alarming vigor. Yuuta could feel the raw, torn tissues knitting back together slowly under the influence of RCT.
But the deepest wounds lay inside, where Yuuta's eyes couldn't see, where only his senses could reach. He opened his mouth and immediately he could taste the sharp tang of blood, a testament to Toge's internal injuries.
Every second was critical, and Yuuta's senses heightened to focus solely on Toge. Yuuta continued on, and his tongue met Toge's, the overwhelming taste of blood and copper meant nothing to Yuuta’s determination to save Toge at any cost. The swirling energy of RCT flowed from Yuuta at each point of contact, invigorating the damaged tissues and accelerating the healing process.
The energy transfer was potent. A surge of warmth enveloped them with the sheer power of Yuuta's cursed technique. The intensity of the connection, of the intimate manner in which Yuuta was sharing his power with Toge, was unparalleled with anything he had ever done in the past.
It felt exhilarating.
Toge's body, initially rigid with tension and pain, began to gradually relax beneath Yuuta. The convulsions became less frequent, the thrashing diminished. As the healing energy coursed through him, Toge's wounds began to mend from the inside out. The once raw, torn tissue of his throat began to knit together, the internal hemorrhaging halting as new cells regenerated.
Yuuta could feel the change in Toge, the way his breathing began to stabilize, the way his heartbeat, which had been erratic, started to find a more rhythmic pace. He poured more of himself into the process, giving every ounce of his energy to ensure Toge's recovery.
As the raw edge of pain began to recede, something else started to take its place. The connection between them, already intimate due to the circumstances, began to shift subtly. Toge's once resisting hand, which had been shoving at Yuuta's chest, now clung to the fabric of his jacket. The fingers, which had been tight in their defensive posture, now curled, pulling Yuuta towards him.
Toge's eyes, earlier filled with the agony of a pain most couldn't even fathom, were now hazy with a different kind of intensity. It was as if the terrifying ordeal had stripped away any barriers or hesitations that existed between them, revealing raw, unfiltered emotions.
Yuuta felt the pull, both physical and emotional. And as Toge angled his head, seeking a deeper connection, Yuuta yielded, letting their lips meet in a desperate, fervent kiss. The energy between them shifted from the pure, therapeutic RCT to something more profound. In this moment, the world outside their bubble seemed to fade away, replaced by the heartbeat and breath of the other.
As Yuuta continued his healing, his other hand, which had once been firm in its restraint, now softened, cradling the back of Toge's head, offering protection against the hard ground beneath them.
And then, as suddenly as it began, it was over. Yuuta slowly pulled away, his breath ragged, exhaustion evident in every line of his face.
From the periphery of their intertwined embrace, a gentle voice broke through. "Rika help Toge?" The melodic tone, which had held such determination earlier, now held a note of inquiry and innocent curiosity. Emerging from the surrounding shadows, Rika appeared, the remnants of her task evident. Surrounding her were the tattered, singed pieces of talisman paper, indicating the thorough job she had done.
Both Yuuta and Toge shifted to face the towering cursed figure. Their gazes, previously locked in an intimate embrace, were now fixed upon Rika. The relief and appreciation evident in their eyes.
Yuuta's face split into a broad grin, revealing the stark contrast between his bloodstained mouth and gleaming teeth. Despite the smeared mess on his face, his smile radiated pure gratitude. "You did great, Rika," he praised genuinely, his voice carrying a mix of warmth and relief.
Rika's form seemed to shimmer with a subtle, pleased energy, recognizing the appreciation and love from Yuuta.
With a grace that belied her monstrous appearance, Rika drifted over to where Toge lay, still nestled within Yuuta's protective embrace. Her previously looming form seemed to soften, the harsh edges of her cursed being melting away to reveal an underlying tenderness. She lifted a massive clawed hand, the very same that had torn apart talismans and terrified countless opponents, and with an unexpected delicacy, began to comb through Toge's tousled hair.
"Toge safe, Toge safe, Toge safe," she murmured, her voice a gentle lullaby that wrapped around the clearing. Each repetition was a testament to her bond with Yuuta, and the lengths she would go to protect the people that were important to him.
The delicate touch of Rika's claws, juxtaposed with their lethal potential, created a serene image. Each gentle pass of her fingers seemed to cleanse Toge's hair of the dirt and grime from the earlier struggle, with the leaves and debris gradually falling away.
Toge was likely able to stand up and continue with the event, but Yuuta continued his task undeterred. He could sense the healing properties of his Reverse Cursed Technique still at work, as they weaved into Toge's system, mending him from the inside out. The sensation of the technique, known for its overpowering warmth and soothing hum, began to wrap around Toge's senses.
The combined healing of RCT, the rhythmic caress from Rika, and the steady chant of safety slowly seeped into Toge's consciousness. His once tense and pain-wracked form began to relax incrementally. With a soft sigh, his eyelashes fluttered before closing entirely, the storm within him finally finding its calm. The soft hum that escaped his lips echoed in the clearing, a sound of surrender to the safety and care enveloping him.
The aftermath of their intense ordeal and the subsequent intimate moment left Yuuta with a brief sense of euphoria, a haze that dulled the senses. But as Toge's breathing evened out into the deep rhythm of sleep beside him, Yuuta's own adrenaline began to fade. And with its retreat, the reality of his own situation became glaringly apparent.
It started as a gentle sting on his shoulder, gradually intensifying until it felt like a searing burn. The same throbbing pain began to resonate from his side, demanding his attention. The injuries he had sustained during his clash with Kamo had, until now, been overshadowed by his concern for Toge.
Looking down, Yuuta's eyes widened. His white jacket was marred with crimson. Blood, his blood, had soaked through the fabric, dark patches spreading outwards from the initial wounds.
"Oh..." Yuuta muttered, feeling lightheaded as the significance of his injuries became clear. The ground beneath him seemed to shift slightly, and he placed a hand on the earth to steady himself. "Uh oh," he whispered, hoping Toge remained unaware. He didn't need more guilt or worry. He had to find a way to handle this himself, and soon.
Yuuta's senses dulled, a numbness spreading from his fingers up to his arm, making its way to the core of his being. The earlier strain of healing Toge had drained much of his energy, and he hadn't taken into account the toll his own injuries would take on his rapidly depleting reserves.
Even as he tried to tap into the RCT technique to address the wound on his side, the surrounding environment blurred.
With Toge’s sleeping form beneath him, Yuuta made a feeble attempt to keep himself conscious, not wanting to leave them both vulnerable. His mind raced, panic setting in as he realized the gravity of his situation. "Stay awake, stay awake," he chanted internally, but his body betrayed him.
The sounds of the forest began to mute, each chirp and rustle fading as if he was sinking underwater. He felt the coolness of the ground against his skin, yet he couldn't register if he was falling. It was as though he was floating in a void, detached from everything.
The last sensation Yuuta felt before everything went black was the gentle warmth of Toge's body next to him, and a distant part of him hoped, pleaded even, to whatever power might be listening, to keep Toge safe.