DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Jujutsu Kaisen belongs to Gege Akutami. I don't own anything!

MizukixTsukiyomi's Notes: Finally stinking Fanfiction allowed me to upload the document. Alright, before we go on to read, I want to share about Jujutsu Kaisen. It isn't well known oversees just yet. It is a Shounen Jump series and gaining popularity in Japan. In fact, one of the characters is SUPER popular. I am writing this on that character and there is slight romance between another. I do highly recommend the manga as it will be getting an anime later this year. It will help if you at least give the first volume a read to understand this one-shot.

If anything, I would greatly appreciate it if this one-shot gains some love or if I am able to at least get you interested in the series. Enjoy!

Dedication: Frog (Limitless Musings)

Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen x Inuyasha

Characters: Gojou Satoru x Kagome Higurashi

Chapter 41: Inked Fate

Fear enveloped her. Constricted her. Paralyzed her. She felt completely under the mercy of the sharp demon nail just a centimeter away from the vein throbbing in her neck. The priestess was afraid to swallow the fear and make her throat flex leading to the demon's nail penetrating. The thought of seeing her warm blood pour had her stomach churning.

But she would not let that fear physically project. That was exactly what the demon before her wanted. The horrendous demon with four muscular arbs and red glowing eyes. Four pairs of glowing eyes to be exact. The priestess's eyes narrowed thinly as she saw the two smirks displayed on his two faces. He was hideous yet a sight she could not turn away from. Four arms and two heads. Red and black markings stretching on and around his arms, necks, and bared toned abdomen. The worst part? The ominous aura wafting around him. She hated to admit it, but she feared this demon a hundred times more than Naraku.

It was her choice to be immobilized by the fear anchoring her.

"Do we have a deal, priestess?" The demon chuckled, teeth baring their sharp glee.

Her fingers flexed into a fist. "There is no deal. What makes you think I'll be making a contract with a demon?"

He applied pressure onto her neck, making her tense.

"You don't have a choice. Besides, this contract benefits you."

Once more, the priestess's eyes narrowed. She found that hard to believe. How would making a contract with this bastard benefit her in any way? She wanted nothing more than to spit on his face. They were one shard away from completing the jewel before moving onto Naraku. Two if this demon did not give up the shard currently in his possession. Naraku was hot on their trail. Fumed by rage after losing the whole collecting of shards he had thanks to Kohaku having betrayed him and given them the shards. They needed the last two.

Then everything would end.

Everything.

"I think you have it wrong." Kagome spat out.

"Oh?" The demon raised a brow. "You think I, Sukuna, the heavily cursed demon would be wrong about your upcoming death? You are in no position to be declining anything, little human. You may be a priestess, but nothing of that sort makes me quiver. In fact," his two faces, one over the other, inched closer to hers, "nothing in this world would make me cower."

She was not as experienced as other priestess she had met and known about, but she was fairly skilled to recognize a real threat. The demon before her was an epidemic threat sure to creep in the shadows of the world if he was left to live. The thought of ending someone's life, demon or not, still gave her doubts. Her fingers twitched on either side of her body. Her body shivered from the cold gases evaporating from the pond they stood in.

Kagome was not sure how where the courage to enter in "his" inner world he had made around an abandoned temple sprouted from, but she regretted it. None of the others in her group – Inuyasha, Sango, nor Miroku – were able to come in. None of them were granted permission, but the second her fingertips touched the black barrier protecting the temple, she easily slipped inside. She believed she could handle the demon they believed lurked inside with the shard. She believed she could because it was her duty to get the shard.

She had to.

But the second she entered the temple, fear anchored her. A vast black watered pond greeted her along with darkness consuming almost all the light inside. The only light visible were the few red candles illuminating around the smaller skull-headed made temple in the middle of the pond. Both human and animal skulls crafted around the temple and the closer she got to the demon sitting on his 'throne', she noticed human skulls were also on his seat.

A droplet from above plopped down on the pond near her feet, springing her back into the reality and her death.

The shard she sought appeared between his thumb and middle finger using one of his free hands. Sukuna's grin stretched, showing the sharp teeth she was sure could puncture her skin with ease. "This is what you want, correct, priestess? I've heard rumors of a powerful jewel able to grant any wish." His eyes glided to look at the shard. "If you ask me, only weaklings would want something like this; it's a tool to swell someone's pride."

"Then," her eyes narrowed, "why would you want it?" The bigger question lingered. "Why do you want to make a contract with me?" A curse like him would be purified by her. There was no use in having her alive. That was if he kept her alive.

Sukuna leaned forward, mere inches away from her lips. "For moments like these."

Kagome bit her tongue. There was nothing to say, but she was disgusted someone like this knew what the jewel meant but was using it as a game.

"I'll give it to you, priestess, but only if you abide by my contract."

"I told you I'm not agreeing to any contract with you-!"

"I can easily kill your friends waiting outside the barrier, priestess."

Kagome closed her lips tightly.

"You aren't in any spot to be making the deals here; you listen to me." Sukuna chuckled under his breath as he wrapped his fingers around her skinny neck and pulled her closer. Ignoring her dull nails scratching at his hand and arm, Sukuna tilted his head to the side. "I wish to forever live as a curse, plaguing the lives of the living and tainting the peace. Priestess," he licked his lips, "you can have the dainty shard, but the next time I see you, you will be by my side."

"W-What?" She choked. "What are you talking about…?"

"Demons fear you holy beings, but for me. I see you as an asset to amplify my curses."

He was a monster. Kagome's fingers curled deep into her palm. A true monster.

"I will back off for now, but in return, the moment we meet again, you will begin to give me your blood. That is the contract we will have."

"W-What?"

Sukuna licked his lips as he brought the girl closer to his face. "A binding contract. I will let you have the shard and release you. I'll even add in a little gift to be unable to hurt those you deem important." He tilted his head to the right, "like those friends of yours waiting outside."

The priestess's eyes dilated.

"In return," his grip on her neck tightened, "the next time we meet you will begin to give me your blood. Your reiki will mix with mine. Others would fear it, but you see, I want to live forever. I want to rule forever. I want to spread fear. Your blood will help me become immune to everything."

Kagome's fingers flexed as she scratched at the hand holding her in the air. This monster should not be allowed to roam free. He was planning a horrid future.

Letting her drop on the water, butt first, Sukuna chuckle as he let go of the shard in his other hand. Kagome winced at the pain pulsing on her bottom before sensing the shard on her lap. Looking down, she did indeed see the shiny pink shard radiating strongly. It was the real thing.

"The next time I see you…?" She repeated out loud.

"It could be tomorrow, or it could be in a few years, priestess." Sukuna chuckled before his finger pointed at her right wrist. A black light immediately pushed out of his finger before it zapped onto Kagome's wrist.

The priestess immediately closed her eyes as she felt the sharp burn on her wrist.

"Give it time; you will be mine."

Kagome immediately sat up from her bed. Cold sweat trickled over her forehead and down her neck. Chest heaved rapidly as the nightmares consumed her brain. She quickly raised her right wrist by clasping her forearm with her free hand. Bringing her wrist up to her eyes, she glared at the clean skin.

Nothing.

There was nothing on her skin, but the burning sensation lingered.

The vivid memory of him still haunted her to this day.

She exhaled heavily as she dropped her hands down on her lap. Even after completing her journey in the feudal era and returning home, the memory of Sukuna still paralyzed her at times. No other demon had anchored her with such fear before. Not even the final battle against Naraku had her shaking. Just the simple memory of Sukuna's dark smirk and cold eyes had her shaking her head to get rid of every feeling that was seeping into her.

A knock at her door fished her out of her deep thoughts.

"Kagome?"

"Yes, okaa-san?"

Her door slowly opened a few inches to reveal Kagome's mother wearing her morning apron. A smile decorated her lips to greet her. "Good morning, sweetie. Start getting ready for work or you won't have time to eat comfortably."

Kagome sheepishly laughed. "Right. I'm up! I'm up!"

"I'll meet you downstairs then." Her mother closed the door.

Waiting for the click on the door, Kagome released her held sigh. Barely awake and already exhausted. She swung her legs over to the floor but continued to sit at the edge of her bed. Her feudal days were over, and years had passed in her own time. Years for sure had passed for her. Twenty-five and a school nurse. She never would have believed her life could stretch to this many years, especially when she had dealt with danger during her teen years.

Kagome walked over to her window before gently pulling the curtain to the side and taking notice of the first few blooms of cherry blossoms sitting on the Goshinboku's branches. Spring was waking up and another school year at the high school she worked at had just started a week ago. She clicked her tongue as she turned away from the window.

Damn, she needed to get to school early. Her paperwork on the first years had to get finished by today.

The black cloth wrapped around the male's eyes scrunched as he read the contents of the papers inside the folders he held. Multiple deaths in a matter of weeks. A deep sigh blew between his lips as he turned the page and silently analyzed the pictures of the dead. Innocent deaths.

"What do you think, Gojou?" An older male in his thirties pushed his black sunglasses in before rubbing the sharp and neatly cut beard coming down to his chin. Watching the tall white-haired male sitting on a cushion on the tatami mat of his office, he noticed the said male never liked sitting politely. His left elbow currently rested over his bent left knee as the other leg laid criss-cross behind his left leg. He cleared his throat as he reached for the ceramic Japanese teacup in front of him. "The recent reports are pinpointing the curse may be lingering around the main Tokyo ward. It would be a problem if the curse took a home in a heavily populated area, Gojou."

A smirk laid on Gojou's lips as he dropped the files on the coffee table. "Pretty sure it already has. There are many schools and hospitals in that area. Easy and comfortable homes for these ugly curses if you ask me, Principal Yaga."

"Then," Yaga raised a brow behind his rectangular sunglasses, "it would be best you get a move on."

"Hai, hai." Gojou cracked his neck. "Although the level of this curse doesn't look too high. I'll be taking my student."

"Ah, one of the second-years?" Yaga asked.

Gojou straightened out the black high-necked coat before coming to a stand. "I believe the first-years can handle this."

"Gojou."

The tall male stopped in his tracks from turning his back. He looked over his shoulder.

Yaga pushed a manilla folder across the coffee table. "The curses are pushing an imminent threat. It won't be long before we will need extra help. The curses are becoming too powerful; we will be needing someone of high spiritual power to fight them." Yaga slightly lowered his glasses down his nose, "especially if you plan to have that Yuji kid around."

Gojou bent down to take the manilla folder in hand. Opening the folder, Gojou scanned the contents of the profile displayed for him. A white brow rose to see the picture of the black-haired female dressed in a school nurse uniform.

"You found someone?" He questioned.

Yaga lowered his cup of tea from his lips. "High energy of spiritual power has been detected around that area. I had a few of my subordinates take a look." He pointed at the file in Gojou's hand. "The source comes from her."

Taking another look at the picture, Gojou gave out a nod before a smirk grew on his lips. "Then I will do my best, Yaga-sensei."

"He said to meet here right?" A young teen pouted as he sat at the top part of the park bench with his feet resting on the sitting part. Elbows rested on both of his knees as he looked at the peace of the park. Water fountain in the middle with younger toddlers splashing the water to each other, elderly couples taking their morning walks, and both working adults and students making their way to their daily routines. The muscular teenager narrowed his light brown eyes at the two standing in front of him. "Why is Gojou-sensei late?"

"Like we should know?" The female teenager scoffed. "Itadori, we are just as lost as you right now."

Itadori's pout got heavier as he glared at the petite female with short orange hair and orange eyes. "I was just asking; we've been waiting for over fifteen minutes, Kugisaki."

"Hmph!" Kugisaki swayed her hair back over her shoulder as she turned to give her back to the spiky haired teen. "Honestly, do you think I want to be here? I rather be at Harajuku doing some daily shopping!"

"Both of you…".

Itadori and Kugisaki turned their heads over to the spiky black-haired male who was staring at the view before them.

"…be patient."

Itadori and Kugisaki leaned closer to get a closer look at the tall dark-haired boy who wore the same color school uniform as them. Itadori and Kugisaki observed quietly before noticing the centimeter sized twitch on the teen's brow.

"You are annoyed, too, Fushiguro!" They both shouted, pointing at the teen.

Dropping his finger and arm to his side, Itadori gave another heavy sigh. It had only been a few weeks since joining the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College. His brow twitched. Such a long name for a school, which was ironic to say the least because for being a curse technical college to teach young shamans about the concept of curses and learning to wield what they called Juryoku, it was college of a very small class. And small meant them three were currently the only first-years attending.

He rested his chin on his palm as he stared at the group of preschool kids running around the jungle gym. Of course he had no choice but to attend the school after his little mishap. His eyes drooped at the memory of him eating the cursed finger Fushiguro had tried to retrieve that night he saved his friends from a cursed spirit. If he had all the facts put together, he understood the basic information.

He was cursed now and for now, his execution by the school has been pushed back. Or at least until he can help them find all twenty cursed fingers.

The thought of him eating it again made his expression twist with disgust. Why had he done that in the first place? But now he was part of the technical college at fifteen helping the community get rid of the curses that were after the cursed fingers to amplify their powers.

"How much do you two know about the cursed fingers?" Itadori questioned.

Both Fushiguro and Kugisaki turned their heads over their shoulders to see Itadori's serious expression.

"Is there a way to defeat Suku-?"

A loud explosion quickly fished their attentions over to the middle water fountain of the park. The cement parts of the fountain immediately showcased lightning-like cracks all over before it exploded into bits and water was spit to the top. Children and adults screamed and ran for shelter and out of harms way as the water rained heavily from the pressure of the fountain.

Itadori quickly jumped off the bench. "What the hell is going on!?"

Pressing his palms together, Fushiguro raised his right index and middle finger together. "It's a curse; it must know you have the cursed finger inside of you."

"W-What?!" Itadori shouted. "They know now?!"

"Wouldn't doubt it." Kugisaki scoffed as she unbuckled the medium-sized hammer she kept at her hip and held two nails in between her knuckles with her free hand.

Itadori's brow twitched in return. Of course he would be a target now. That was the other consequence he had swallowed. Bringing his hand to his back, he unsheathed a medium sized blade with two holes at the tip. Taking a firm grip on the handle of the blade, Itadori gulped remembering he had just started wielding the hilt-less blade. The hilt had been replaced with a white and worn out cloth wrapped around.

"Fine, let's just get this thing!" Itadori exclaimed as he rushed forward.

"Oi!" Fushiguro yelled watching his classmate blur from his vision and run after the curse demon. "Dammit!" He pointed his two fingers with his hands kept clasped together down to the ground. "That damn Itadori never listens! That's why he died the first time!"

"Wait!" Kugisaki extended her arm out, stopping Fushiguro from casting his curse powers out. "Itadori! Watch out!"

Following her focus, Fushiguro's eyes widened noticing a black blur appearing to Itadori's right. The curse spirit quickly shifted over to the left the second Itadori turned to his right and saw nothing. "Oi!" Fushiguro cursed under his breath, "he's a teleporter! Dammit!" Focusing his spiritual power to the tip of his fingers, a black aura formed under the tip of his two fingers before a shadow swirled below his feet and expanded. "Gyokuken!" One black shadowed Shikigami dog appeared before him and growled. Fushiguro released his hands to his side as his eyes narrowed on the cursed spirit. "You know what to do."

The Shikigami dog quickly ran forward chasing and waiting for the appearance of the curse.

"Where the hell did he go!?" Itadori gritted his teeth as he stood his ground looking left and right. The curse spirit was quick and the fact it was able to do that much damage to a simple fountain gave them a sign it was evolving to something far more terrifying. Hearing a howl behind him, Itadori blinked the moment Fushiguro's Shikigami came to stand before him. "Shiki-oomf!" Pushed down by the Shikigami, Itadori watched as the black miasma of the curse swarmed where he once stood. Pupils dilated as the miasma pulsed ever so slowly before the black shroud expanded into an enormous cloud above them.

"Oi! Oi! Oi!" Itadori scrambled back on his feet as he ran to meet up with Fushiguro and Kugisaki. "What the hell is going on?!"

Kugisaki cursed under her breath. "This is has to be at least above a Grade One spirit!"

Lowering his stance into a wider squat, Fushiguro lowered his clasped hands to point the black shadow beneath him. Any spirit above Grade One was out of a first-years' experience. Shaman leaders had trouble dealing with them! What the hell was one doing here out in the open?!

Fushiguro gritted his teeth, "where the hell is Gojou-sensei…?"

This was going bloom a blood bath if their damn teacher did not arrive on time.

"Itadori."

Hearing Fushiguro's whisper, Itadori's eyes made minimal movement to signal they were currently having a conversation.

"No doubt they are after you." Fushiguro tightened the hold on his hands. "Whatever you do, keep him suppressed at all cost." The last thing they needed was a major curse to explode and taint with his insanity.

Twirling the medium blade's hilt within his hand, Itadori raised his guard. "Don't gotta tell me twice! The bastard isn't getting out!"

Looking over her notes typed on her phone, Kagome pouted as she saw the to-do list for today. Her tasks were only continuing to pile. She was always behind at the beginning of every year with getting the student medical records in order and organizing the upcoming examinations on all of them. All of them. She looked at her reflection off the train's windows. Her black pencil skirt and white button shirt were definitely a fashion to blend in Tokyo's society. Conformity. A normal being. A tired sigh was released as she scanned her train pass on the system and walked towards the train station's second exit. Exiting out of her note's application on her phone, she looked at the time. She still had twenty minutes before school started. Good. She had time to relax. She took a step into the park's main entrance as she put her phone into her black purse. Usually her habit of running late would still be ongoing, but with the reoccurring nightmares popping in almost every night, she was starting to think the 'no-sleep' was going to be adopted soon.

'Insomnia…how fun.' Kagome shook her head only to halt the moment a dark aura creeped over her senses. Her skin went cold as she felt the air around her still and the wind picked up speed. The priestess quickly looked up at the sky to see a shroud of grey clouds were beginning to gather. Rain? There were no weather reports of rain today.

The ominous aura pulsed again; an explosion ahead made her jolt. Eyes landed on the rain splatter coming from the main fountain now presenting itself cracked. Her feet slowly moved toward the water and screams as people ran past and bumped into her. This aura…

Kagome quickened her pace to the middle of the park only to come to a sudden halt at the sight of the black miasma pooling above three teens. "W-What…?" Her head tilted upwards to see the said miasma beginning to shoot bullets of its smoke to the three teens wearing a black school uniform. This was no ordinary miasma. This was demonic. Cursed.

"Oi! Itadori! Watch out!"

Kagome's focus shifted over to the black spiked haired teen yelling at the other teen who came to a stand from the ground. Her eyes widened watching the black miasma pulse before releasing a screech and sending painful drumming into their ears.

The three teens quickly covered their ears; the Shikigami standing beside the Itadori-kid melted into a pool of its own shadow before completely disappearing.

"T-The hell!?" Itadori shouted. "Fushiguro, your Shikigami-!"

"Itadori!" The female brunette warned. "Move, you idiot!"

"H-Huh?" Itadori tilted his view upwards only to see an oncoming collection of miasma bullets stampeding towards him. Preparing his stance to defend, Itadori's pupils widened the moment long black hair waved in front of him. He blinked, realizing a female had stood in front of him with her hands pressed in prayer. "O-Oi-!"

"Ukai Hogo."

The three watched in awe as a pink barrier spun in front of the woman before it enlarged into a full sized shield to protect them all from the raining miasma bullets.

"What the…?" Fushiguro's shoulders dropped as kept his eyes glued on the crystalized pink barrier above them. Slowly, he lowered his sights on the female protecting their comrade. What the hell was this? Strong spiritual energy was emitting from the barrier, but it was not cursed like the energy they used. His eyes narrowed on the woman's back. It was too strong.

"M-Miss…?" Itadori whispered. "W-Who are-?!" A sudden pang in his chest froze him on the spot. Paralyzed, Itadori felt the pulses within him multiply. 'F-Fuck! S-Stop! NOT RIGHT NOW!'

'LET ME OUT!'

Kagome's own pupils slowly widened as she felt a familiar aura loom behind her. Slowly looking over her shoulder, Kagome's fingers slowly withdrew from each other as she saw the young boy hitting his chest with his fist.

"Stop it!" Itadori shouted. "You aren't coming out!" He roughly grasped the front of his uniform within his fist as he bent forward. "DAMN YOU!"

This cold feeling. This inability to move or speak. She had felt it years ago. Two auras radiated from the boy, but one concerned her. The darker of the two auras was being heavily suppressed by his own. She slowly turned her body to face the boy in pain. "Y-You…are you-?"

The sound of an owl fished her out of her dialogue, making her turn back to the battle at hand. Kagome blinked, taken back by the large owl spreading it's wings in front of her before cutting through another miasma attack.

"Focus, you two!" Fushiguro yelled, running up to them as he kept his hands clasped together. "The curse isn't gone!"

"Curse?" Kagome whispered. Eyes landed back on the black smog swirling in the sky. She definitely sensed demonic energy. She pressed her palms together; questions would need to wait. Whatever this being was, it could not be left alone. Especially not after witnessing the damage it could cause.

"I'm not sure who you are," Fushiguro whispered to the priestess, keeping his eyes glued on the enemy, "but can you assist?"

Her blue eyes caught his calm aura swirling over his being. Composed and ready. Her vision shifted back ahead. "I'll do what I can."

Itadori took a few steps back as his body began to feel the fatigue. Stopping the damn monster inside of him was becoming exhausting. But something was off. He was really pushing for his freedom. He was practically banging through his soul to be out and take over his body. Bent forward, Itadori raised his head to look between his sweaty bangs. The woman was going to fight? Hot sweat clung on his forehead as his breathing became frenetic. Another pulse within his chest came through, making him grunt. The hell did the bastard want?!

'You better fucking stop, Suku-!'

"Out!"

Itadori's eyes widened as he felt a split opening on his left cheek.

Lips and sharp teeth stretched with glee on the teen's cheek. "She's here…SHE'S FINALLY HERE!"

Itadori quickly slapped his hand over his cheek to cover the mouth. "Shut up! I don't know what you are frenzied about but I'm not letting you out!"

Sirens echoed, making all heads present turn to the direction they were coming from.

"Crap!" Kugisaki took a step forward. "The police and ambulances are coming! We need to take care of this before the media gets a big hit! Although," she winked at the three, "the media would love to have coverage over me, wouldn't they?"

"The hell that is what they are going to be caring about at this moment…". Itadori panted out before feeling the handle of her hammer strike the back of his head.

Kugisaki huffed, "you ass."

"This isn't good…". Kagome took another look at the miasma and the three teens. Media would go berserk finding humans fighting their imagination. Normal people couldn't see the horror they were seeing. Cameras were going to formulate a story of four insane people needing an asylum. "Fine…I'll end this."

Fushiguro blinked his attention onto upon hearing her faint voice. "Huh?" Did he hear her say she was going to end it? Fushiguro's lips parted to question only to stop at the sight of the mysterious woman pressing both of her fists together – facing each other – with her two pinkies sticking out. What was she doing?

"Junsuina Seiiki."

In an instant, the same pink aura vortexed below their feet before it spread faster than light and cubed them all in. Fushiguro and the other two were speechless at the sight of the pink crystallization of her aura as silver sparkles floated within her aura cage.

"W-What is this?" Perplexed, Kugisaki raised her fingers to touch the specs of silver floating around. "Is this her…Spiritual Expansion?"

Itadori winced as he dropped to his knees. 'D-Dammit!' He was banging as hard as he could to get out. What the hell did he want?!

Kagome wasted no time and crossed her pinkies into an 'X'. "Jihi."

The aura caging them in slowly illuminated brightly in pink before all of them were blinded by the energy. A screech of pain was heard from above as the glow increased in brightness. From between their fingers and taking peeks below their elbows, the three teens watched as the black miasma evaporated into nothingness leaving a small blue orb floating above. Silence clouded their senses as the pink barrier slowly dissipated into the air. Sparkles of the glow lingered in the air before one by one popped gracefully to be blown by the breeze. The small blue orb bounced slightly in the air; eyes landed on the woman making her way towards the orb as it descended.

A small smile curled over her lips, "you poor thing…".

Itadori braced his palms over his knees as he watched the female. He raised a brow. Wait, she…had he seen her somewhere before? The whole commotion had not given him time to observe her features, but now that things were quiet, he was sure he had seen her somewhere. He clutched his chest as he felt another string of pain. "K-Kuh! The hell…".

"Did she just…save the curse?" Kugisaki asked under her breath, walking to stand beside Fushiguro. "Is that even possible?"

Fushiguro, astonished at the skill the woman had displayed, unclasped his hands. "Not for a curse above Grade One." Saving a cursed soul was nearly impossible. They could abolish it from existence, but to witness the curse get purified completely, he would have never believed it. Her skill…was different.

With the soul floating above her right palm, Kagome's expression softened. She flexed her fingers forward, releasing the soul out into the sky.

The sirens echo began to break the distance, signaling they were close. Kagome's head snapped to the right, watching as red and blue lights flickered around the perimeter of the park. Cursing under her breath, Kagome turned to face the three teens. "We can't stay here; we can't explain this mess that easily to the public. We gotta run and hide!" Hastily walking over to her dropped bag near a tree, Kagome took another look at the three. "Be safe, okay?"

Watching the woman run the opposite direction from them, Kugisaki stretched out her arm. "W-Wait! Miss-!"

"FUCK!"

Both Kugisaki and Fushiguro turned towards Itadori's voice only to see him panting on the floor.

"Itadori?" Kugisaki whispered. "What's wrong…?"

"The bastard wants to get out." He winced once more. "B-But I'm trying my best to suppress him!"

'YOU ARE LETTING HER GET AWAY!'

Itadori's eyes landed on the mysterious woman composing herself at the exit where the public stood for safety. Itadori's fingers curled into the ground watching the woman turn one last time. Her eyes met his pain; her expression contorted with worry. A faint memory from orientation on his first day in high school sprung. That's why he recognized her! She was his school's nurse. Or at least, used to be when he added the few days he did.

Itadori blinked as he felt his body being lifted by his arm. Looking to his right, he watched as Fushiguro hooked his arm over his own neck to support his limp body. "Fushiguro…?"

"Let's go." He spoke, eyes glued on the damage. "She's right, we can't stay here. We will talk to Gojou-sensei." He hoped at least he would have answers to the cluster of question that had formulated in their heads.

From the shadows between the trees, the silver haired shaman scratched his chin as he watched the aftermath of the battle he witnessed in the park. A battle he had not expected to explode as it did, but the shocking part was the person who had involved themselves. It was the last person he expected to see running in to help his students.

"Ho~?" Gojou smirked as he squatted on the branch of the highest tree in the park. He had been late to meet up with his students, but he definitely held no regret to it. Thanks to his tardiness he had witnessed the person Yaga and he had their eye on. He was able to see Higurashi, Kagome in action.

And the reports had underestimated her greatly.

He nodded to himself, "she has potential, all right." The records he had skimmed through in Yaga's office were nothing but messily numbers if he compared to the spiritual power she had controlled. 'Complete and perfect control, too.' Her concentration was superb; it was beautiful. That he would admit.

Straightening himself to a stand, he dug his hands into his pockets as a smirk crawled over his lips. "If we can get her to our side, we might have the upper hand against him and all curses."

"Holy crap!" The excitement and awed feeling fluttered within Itadori as the events that had transpired before him replayed in his head. He had never witnessed something so badass and beautiful at the same time! That random woman had just come in, all badass, and did something in a matter of minutes! He shouted his excitement out into the world once more as he leaned his head back. "That was freaking amazing!"

Stopping in the middle of the street and away from the ruckus around the park, Kugisaki and Fushiguro looked over their shoulders.

Kugisaki's face deadpanned, "calm down, idiot."

"You had to be amazed, too!" He snapped to a stand. "You gotta admit you have never seen that level of skill! Right, Fushiguro!?"

Looking to see if Fushiguro agreed, Kugisaki waited.

Fushiguro's attention lined up to the crowd of civilians around the park as police and the ambulances rushed to calm the storm. He had to admit, what they had witnessed from the woman was abnormal. Curses were usually abolished from existence for a reason.

So they would not continue to spread their chaos.

Yet she had done the impossible. She saved the soul. Perhaps Gojou would have some answers.

"Yo."

Speak of the devil. Fushiguro and the others looked the opposite direction to see their shaman instructor standing and saluting them with a smile.

"Good morning, everyone!"

"The hell you been!?" Kugisaki and Itadori accused with a finger pointed at him.

"I'm late." He chuckled, placing his hand back inside his pockets, "my bad." Sticking out his tongue in a cutesy apologetic manner, Gojou hoped that was enough to please.

"Don't give us that dumb cutesy crap!" Kugisaki crossed her arms. "We almost died back there!"

Following her finger pointing to the park, Gojou leaned to the side to take note of the commotion. "Ah~…seems like something big happened there."

"Oh yes something happened, and someone had to pick up your slack!" Itadori huffed as he pushed through his comrades to deliver an accusatory glare. "A random stranger did the most badass thing ever making you look horrible, sensei."

Gojou tilted his head again, "huh? Really? Who?"

A sigh passed Fushiguro's lips. This was going nowhere. Deciding he would step in to explain, Fushiguro pointed at the park with his thumb over his shoulder. "A Grade One cursed spirit appeared out of the blue, at least that's the level I believe it was. It was after Itadori. We can all guess why."

Gojou looked at the other teen boy who nodded.

"Right before Itadori was going to get attacked, a woman appeared and protected him with her own cursed energy." Fushiguro paused, thinking back to the barriers she had created. Fact of the matter was, whatever energy she had formulated, it had not felt cursed. If anything, the opposite.

Pondering over their explanation, Gojou rubbed his chin. He had seen the whole thing unfold, but he would not tell them that. That would only cause them to have an outburst that he had decided not to help with the battle. Not that they needed it. He was confident his three students could handle the situation. After all, the were the only three first-years enrolling at the shaman school. He laughed at the thought. What he had not planned was for Higurashi Kagome to appear so soon, and soon after having looked over her file with Yaga.

"Gojou-sensei!" Kugisaki fished him out of his thoughts. "That woman was able to purify a curse!"

"Purify?" He repeated, curiosity peaking.

"She went like this!" Itadori pressed his hands in prayer. "And then things went poof!" His hands expanded out to showcase how the barrier had expanded. "And then the curse went kapouf!" His fingers stretched out before regulating his stance and eyes went wide. "Just like that! The girl had cleansed a curse!" He snapped his fingers before pointing his index finger at his teacher. "It went R.I.P. It was pretty lit."

Fushiguro's brow twitched, "what's up with the sound effects?"

"And the lingo?" Kugisaki's face twisted with disgust.

"I'm just saying it was cool the way she fought!" He pouted. "I never thought my former school nurse could do such a thing!"

"Huh?" Both Kugisaki and Fushiguro blinked.

"Your school nurse?" Gojou asked, catching Itadori's attention.

Itadori nodded, "yeah. I didn't recognize her at first since I had only seen her once at school. But," he scratched his cheek, "no doubt it was her…I thought she was really pretty when I first saw her."

Gojou's lips curved upwards as he thought back to her file. A small world indeed. He'd have to visit when he formulated a plan. Convincing her to help would have take some work.

Sweeping up a mountain of pink petals near her feet, Kagome stopped for a minute to look at the large tree towering over her home. The cherry blossoms clinging to the tree were surely to be there only for two more days. Just like that, green lush was going to overtake the pink elegance of the tree. Funny how something so beautiful only lasted merely days. But it was an example how fast life's beauty could wither.

A soft sigh blew between her cold lips as she continued her task to sweep her shrine. After the morning's events, she had continued to think about them all throughout work. Spirits? She had caught glimpses of them in her everyday life, but never to the point of having to cut in and have her reiki explode onto the terrain. She stopped; her grip on the wooden broom tightened. Her stomach churned, but her head swirled with many thoughts. She was not sure why the anxiety within her started to bubble, but she felt something was off.

Or wrong.

The one teen who had the blade…his aura was split into two. She had not been mistaken when she sensed the second aura spike and suddenly being pushed down by the kid. But whatever that aura had been or whoever it was, a familiar fright enveloped her that second.

Kagome shook the layering thoughts away and continued to sweep only to stop once more as she sensed a strong presence making its way up to the shrine. Kagome straightened her back and waited for the visitor to make its appearance. White hair made her eyes flutter before noticing the tall slender male in all black wearing a black blindfold over his eyes. Kagome remained quiet as she let his aura do the talking. The aura emitting was being purposefully released; it was a message.

And she received it.

Her azure eyes narrowed on the man, watching as he observed his surroundings before slowly making his way deeper into the shrine grounds. This man…had spiritual power.

"Huh, this is a nice little shrine in the middle of Tokyo." He voiced out loud with a smile to partner.

From the corner of her eyes, Kagome silently watched as the mysterious male walked past her and stared at the main shrine ahead. Was she being ignored on purpose? Her brows furrowed at the possibility.

Turning his head over to the shed with closed doors, he raised a white brow. "Hm, there is strong energy surging from the whole shrine; this shrine is the real deal, isn't it?" He looked over his shoulder, smile still plastered on his lips to look at the girl. The question now being directed to her. "There is a lot of spiritual pressure around here."

Kagome's eyes narrowed as her guard spiked. "Can I help you?"

He waited three seconds to pass before finally turning his whole body to face the young woman. "You for sure can. Or well," he scratched his jaw, "should I say you already did?"

"Make sense here, mister." She blurted with annoyance.

"Ah, forgive my rudeness." He gave her a slight bow with his head. "The name is Gojou Satoru; Higurashi-san we need your continuous assistance."

At the use of her name, her glare tightened and so did her grip. Her guard flared. "Who are you? And how do you know me?" Was she being stalked now? She did not feel any ill intent in his aura, but that did not mean she was going to lower her guard.

Gojou extended his arm out as his palm opened. "Higurashi-san, you are able to use spiritual energy, correct?"

The corner of her eyes twitched.

"We need someone of your skill at the tech school."

"Tech school?" She repeated. "What kind of tech school focuses on spiritual energy?"

The smile on his lips shifted to a smirk. "Ah, forgive me for not being clear. I'm a teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College. We are a school in hopes to fruit proper shaman under the concept of Juryoku."

"Never heard of you." Kagome raised her head, trying to get a better read on his person. A tech school for shamans? This had to be a joke.

"Ah, we façade the school to be a private religious school so the public aren't questioning-".

"-I'm questioning a lot." She cut in.

"Which is understandable." Gojou chuckled, lowering his arm back to his side and resting his hand into his pocket. "We need strong people like you that can help with the lingering curses and defeat those spreading their chaos onto the living."

"No thank you."

"You're declining?" His smile shrunk. "You have talent. Talent you are wasting being just a school nurse, Higurashi-san."

So they had done their homework. That much she concluded. This was no ordinary shaman school if they were aware of her spiritual powers. But the curses they spoke of…were they the ones she had witnessed that morning with the three teens? What exactly was going on with spirits in her world? Was this something that was always happening, and she turned a blind eye? She believed her world was at peace to an extent. At least, free from things like the monsters and events she had experienced in the past.

"We know potential when we see it." Gojou took a step forward. He knew it was a gamble to come up to her and spill all that was classified to the public, but the girl was not ordinary. She was aware of the different world that mingled with the norm. "At least, I do."

Kagome brought the broom to her chest as she leaned away from his smirk. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to-".

"-there is a boy." He swiftly interrupted.

Her words dried at the tip of her tongue. Curiosity swirled.

"There is a boy who needs your help."

"My…help?" Was this a bluff to swindled her? There was a high possibility. Her shoulders untensed. "What do you mean?"

"He is cursed."

Kagome stopped under the temple's entrance as she saw the vast land before her. Multiple temples gathered as gardens flourished it with grace and peace. This was the shaman school? How did she miss such a big attraction in Tokyo? She looked over her shoulder noticing normal civilians continuing their routine, but not one turning their heads to even grace the temple a look.

"Many people around the area think of it as a shaman school so of course the norm in Tokyo is not everyone wants to follow the religion for a living." Gojou chuckled as he continued to lead Kagome into the temple grounds. "You got nothing to worry about, we aren't that sketchy."

"That?" She fished out a key word.

"Let's go take you to meet my students!"

Her brow twitched, "o-oi! Don't ignore my question!"

Gojou smiled as he walked her towards a dojo structured temple and took off his shoes before entering the dojo's engawa. He slid the shoji screen open as he heard Kagome taking off her shoes and following him to the entrance. "Don't worry, they're good kids."

Kagome jolted as she heard Gojou slam the shoji screen open. The heck?

"Good afternoon, slackers!" Gojou greeted with glee. Taking a step inside the dojo, he crossed his arms. "Are we all training hard?"

She was hesitant to take the step forward. She was not even sure what had her agreeing to come in the first place, but after hearing Gojou's vague explanation about a cursed boy, she could not help but wonder if she really was needed. He had stated there was teen boy needing help and she was possibly his only hope from being destroyed inside out. Kagome gulped as she finally took a step inside the dojo. Wood underneath her foot creaked slightly as she walked to stand beside the white-haired shaman. Blinking rapidly, Kagome was taken back by the sight of the three teens she had encountered in the park that morning. The three teens froze in place, staring back at her with wide eyes.

Both sides just as shocked.

"W-Wait…". Itadori shoulders dropped, recognizing the female. "T-That's-!"

"-your new instructor!" Gojou introduced.

Kagome blinked, "eh? Wait a damn minute! I came to see! What's this about instructor?!"

"Oh?" Gojou gently scratched his cheek, "aren't you?"

"We agreed to no such thing." She glared – hard.

Lowering his arms to his side, Fushiguro was the first to fully face the duo at the entrance. His eyes remained glued on the woman. There was no doubt that was the woman who had purified the curse completely clean. Did Gojou know about her?

"Who is she, Gojou-sensei?" Kugisaki asked, taking a step forward.

"This is the woman Itadori was telling you about this morning." Fushiguro cut in. "Do you know her?"

Gojou pouted as he nodded slightly. "Guess you could say that? Know about her on the surface."

"Yeah, that's just a fancy way of saying you're a stalker." Kagome rolled her eyes. Sighing, the priestess turned her head to see the black-haired male and brunette female giving each other a glance. Those three were definitely the teens she had seen fighting the curse in the morning. They were part of the shaman school? Were those encounters against curses an everyday thing?

"This is Higurashi Kagome." Gojou introduced. "She's here to do a little," he tilted his head to the right to steal a glance of her, "observation."

Scratching the back of his head, Itadori could not help but feel a wave of confusion beginning to stumble him. Was it a coincidence she was standing there? The familiar pulse within his chest sprang, making him wince. A stretch on his cheek's skin caused him to quickly raise his hand and slap the mouth that began to appear. Damn him to hell! He was trying to get out! 'Fuck! Not now, bastard!'

Kagome shifted her focus on the third teen standing a few feet behind his comrades. The spike in his hooded aura made her eyes narrow. "Are…you okay…?" Gojou had mentioned a boy being cursed. Everyone's auras were abnormal compared to normal humans, but she concluded it was part of being shamans. But the one boy behind was different. Since her brief meeting with him at the park, she felt uneasy.

And she still did.

"Ah, that's Itadori Yuji." Gojou uncrossed his arms to rest his hands on his hips. "He's the one that is cursed."

Her eyes narrowed.

Gojou made his way forward as Kugisaki and Fushiguro opened the path for him. "Unfortunately, he's too much of an idiot and ate a cursed item containing the soul of one of the most notorious curse known to history." Gojou clicked his tongue a few times before he gave Itadori a smirk. "Isn't that right, Itadori-kun? Now you have to share a body with Sukuna."

Kagome's pupils immediately dilated at the familiar name. A name rattling chains to deepest parts of her soul. 'Did he just say…?' It could not be…

"Let her read you with her reiki, Itadori." Gojou moved out of Itadori's way so he could see the priestess standing silently across. "She might have some hope for you."

Itadori's tired gaze meet hers. He waited.

The priestess's fingers twitched at her side; her throat knotted, unable to voice anything. A paralyzing fear blew around her before chilling her to a blank thought. She had heard his name, right? Or was she suddenly gluing his name just because she had felt a familiar ominous aura to his? Her eyes narrowed to slits as she watched Itadori waiting for her to come to him. There was no way this teen had that devil inside of him, right?

She swallowed, hard; she took cautious steps forward. The gods would have to be playing with her fate if she were to meet him again. They'd have her curse by now. Standing only a few feet away from Itadori, Kagome's eyes scanned for anything. Anything she could fish out of his aura. She was not entirely sure what the second aura in him entailed as it was being pushed down. Forcefully. Whatever it was, none of them in this dojo wanted it out. Raising her hand, she slowly flexed her right palm as her fingers reached to touch Itadori's chest. Concentrating a sliver of her reiki at her fingertips, Kagome slowly laid them over Itadori's chest.

A sharp burn on her wrist immediately zapped, making her wince and defensively pull back. Itadori in return grunted, feeling his insides pulse uncontrollably.

Gojou's brows furrowed behind his blindfold; Kugisaki and Fushiguro took a step back, raising their guard as they watched Itadori beginning to clasp the sides of his head and grip his hair. Screeches from the teen boy echoed within the dojo as scrolls and shoji screens rattled with the rise of cursed energy. Kagome's left hand gripped her wrist, covering the pain as it spread. She glared at the boy as he screamed in pain; the second aura quickly overshadowing his own.

She knew it.

Gojou slowly took out his hands out of his pockets as he lowered his stance. Something was not right.

A sinister laugh erupted from Itadori's chest as he leaned back, bending his spine farther than humanly possible. Bones cracked as he slowly came up and his back hunched forward. Head snapped a second after, revealing Itadori's face contorted with black markings over the bridge of his nose, under his eyes stretching down to his jaw and chin. A similar three strip marking slowly inked on Itadori's forehead, making the priestess's spine freeze at the spot. Sharp teeth slowly revealed themselves as his grin stretched maniacally.

"Long time no see, priestess."

Kagome held her saliva; her fingers went cold. That dark tone. Those soul piercing eyes. She hated it.

Itadori's body took a step forward, only to chuckle at the sight of her step back. "I recognize that spiritual power anywhere. It's you, isn't it? Exactly, you." Stretching out his hand forward, he uncurled his fist, revealing his sharp black nails and two black strips around his wrist. "The contract begins."

"Contract?!" Kugisaki exclaimed, turning her head to the priestess he savored with his eyes. "With you?!"

Kagome's whole body was ready to go limp on the spot.

Sukuna.

That was Sukuna.

A blur of black covered her view, making her eyes flutter upwards to see the white-haired shaman standing before her. For a second, the chains of fear had rattled a whisper of freedom.

"Ho, ho~," Gojou smiled, "looks like we have an unannounced visitor." He hunched his back forward as he squatted halfway. "Shall I show you the proper way to introduce yourself, Sukuna-san?"

Sukuna's brow twitched upon facing the damn shaman again. It was not the first time. The first time he met him was when he had first taken over Itadori's body the night he consumed one of his cursed fingers. He had been able to knock him out without breaking a sweat. It still pissed him off. Tilting his head upwards, Sukuna's expression melted with annoyance. "Get out of my way, shaman. My business is with her."

"Hm, unfortunately, she isn't available to meet with people that didn't book a meeting with her." Gojou's smirk stretched. "How about you and I have a little chat?"

Sukuna's brow twitched before squatting wide and flexing both fingers out. "I'll rip you to shreds if you don't move out of the way!" Lunging forward, Sukuna growled behind his confident smirk. "She belongs to me!"

Gojou hooked his arm around Kagome's waist, pulling her flush against his side before disappearing Sukuna's view. Sukuna growled once again before sensing the two to his left.

Continuing to hold his smile, Gojou carefully released Kagome to stand between Fushiguro and Kugisaki. "Take care of her; I'll deal with my rebellious student."

"H-Ha?" Kugisaki blinked. "W-What do we do?!"

Kagome's flinched as she gasped out the pain that struck once again on her wrist. Kugisaki's brows furrowed as she took a step forward and checked on the priestess. She was in pain? But they had not seen Itadori or Sukuna do anything to her. "He didn't injure her right?" She asked Fushiguro.

Fushiguro's expression remained stoic, but his common sense remained suspicious on the woman. "Not physically at least."

Silent, Gojou observed the way Kagome securely covered her right wrist from outsiders. The black markings slowly seeping into his skin did not escape his knowledge. "If Sukuna is after her, then we keep her way from him." Gojou replied, cracking his neck. "Remember, we don't give into curses. Now," Gojou's straightened his spine, "go."

Taking that as their signal, Fushiguro quickly carried Kagome bridal style before making an escape from the dojo and Kugisaki following behind as defense.

Sukuna roared his rage. "You bastards!"

Blocking his path once again, Gojou clicked his tongue. "It sucks I can't show off in front of her, but her safety is priority. Maybe another day." He raised two fingers in front of his eyes, index and middle. "Guess it's time to get my dear student back."

"She's good. No scratches or anything on her…at least aside from the markings on her wrist."

Kagome's brows knitted as she stared at the wrist that laid on her lap. She had been brought to the school's infirmary and getting checked by the main doctor. A slender beautiful woman with long black hair down to her mid back wearing her doctor's coat over a skintight red dress that reached down to her knees. High heels echoed as the female doctor turned to face the shaman instructor who laid on the couch across the room with his legs resting over the coffee table.

"I would check the markings, but…", she took another look at the priestess sitting on the patient chair from the corner of her eyes, "that's outside of my jurisdiction; my specialty is corpses, Gojou-san."

"So she's good, Ieriri-sensei?" Gojou questioned.

Ieriri raised a brow, grasping the tone lathered with irritation. "Overall, affirmative."

"Good." He lowered his feet back on the white tile floor before resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers together. "Then leave me with her."

Kagome slowly raised her head to see Gojou's attention on her. Even with the blindfold on she could tell he was digging burrows into her soul with his eyes. He was looking for answers. Answers she may have laid on her person, but with the marking on her wrist, it only sprung more questions. They had witnessed Sukuna coming after her. He declared his contract and now she was a target in the monster's eyes. She was not sure how Gojou had dealt with Itadori, let alone Sukuna. But – her eyes narrowed on the shaman – she had felt a huge spiritual energy envelope the dojo as soon as Fushiguro had reached the infirmary. Gojou had said Itadori was now 'resting' in another infirmary – a locked one. Her eyes dropped again. So that was the cursed boy. So that morning when she saved him in the park, the second aura she sensed in him was Sukuna? But how? How did he had Sukuna inside of him?

"I was amazed by your powers and everything this file had collected out of you." He showed her the manila folder with her information as he held it between his index and middle finger. "But…," he dropped it on the coffee table, letting some of the papers spew, "nowhere inside does it state you had contact with Sukuna."

"Would such information really be recorded?" Her tone flung with sass. Of course, that type of information would not be recorded. Her last meeting with Sukuna had been over five hundred years. Only her and Sukuna knew of their meeting, let alone the contract. Not that she had believed him at first. She thought she had won with the years already passing. But now – she clasped her right wrist with her left hand – everything had gone Sukuna's way.

Gojou stood from his spot. "How do you know Sukuna, Higurashi-san?"

Her eyes remained glued on the markings.

"What contract did you two make?" He held back his growl. He was furious. Furious over the information that had been kept secret from him. But the biggest thing panging him was having placed her in a dangerous situation. If he had known, he would have kept her far away from Itadori and Sukuna. He placed her right where Sukuna wanted.

"Higurashi-san-".

"-it's a one-sided contract made by him and under his terms."

Gojou's shoulders laxed upon hearing her faint voice. "Explain."

Raising her eyes, her expression softened. "It's a long story."

A heavy exhale puffed out of the shaman as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Very well, then," a smile was quick to spring on his lips, "shall we get out of here and go out on a date?"

The priestess's eyes widened, "h-ha?!"

Kagome's brow twitched as she watched the six sugar cubes being dropped into Gojou's cup of coffee. And it was not like it was a big mug. It was small. Her blue eyes rose to see him pouting as he stirred the mountain of sugar collected below the cup. She would have never believed this man to love sweets. Or in this case, overly sweet drinks.

Taking a calm sip, Gojou smiled as he welcomed the sweet taste. He sighed contently as he lowered the mug down on the table before noticing the woman's hardened stare on his person. "Is your latte good?" He questioned, motioning to her drink with his head.

She shook her shock. "Why are you inviting me out?" She questioned, defensively. Everything was happening too fast. Too fast. For years she had tried to stay away from spiritual beings and using her reiki out of fear of her nightmares blooming real, and it had occurred just a few hours ago. She came face-to-face with the one cursed demon she had hoped she would never see again. She had hoped the damn demon would have died in the feudal era after their 'pact'. And now – her eyes landed on her wrist – the marking was proof she was no longer dreaming.

"I invited you on this date so you could tell me about yourself." Gojou smiled. "That's what dates are about, right?"

"I would rather you call this an interrogating rather than a date, Gojou-san." She raised a brow. "You want to know about the curse and the contract, right? Let's be transparent here."

The smile on Gojou's lips remained as he reached for his cup of coffee. "Very well. You made a contract with Sukuna; you've been cursed." Holding his cup of coffee from the handle, he used his middle finger to point at the said wrist she laid on her lap. "Do you know what that means?"

She remained silent.

"Surely you know." He chuckled. "You get rid of those who are cursed."

"So is this you telling me that my death is near?" She questioned.

He took a quick sip and shook his head. "No! No! Let's not be too hasty on that, my dear. Let's see if we can avoid that extreme decision. The other shaman schools would oppose me keeping you alive, but I find that you could benefit us somehow."

Kagome slowly reached for her latte, 'great, another person thinking I am a tool.'

"I want to know how this whole," he carefully waved his cup in a circle, "thing came to be. To be attacked by Sukuna and left alive? What an honor."

"Honor?" She scoffed. "That being is a monster. There is no honor anywhere, Gojou-san. He left me alive for the very purpose to keep me petrified."

"Ho?" Gojou raised a brow. Petrified? Why would she be petrified when she had the upper hand handling Sukuna? Her spiritual powers were feared amongst dark spirits. Her touch alone was enough to burn them. Did Sukuna hold something against her that had her shackled? Nevertheless, he did feel horrible having put her on the spot like that and practically placed her in the middle of something so dangerous without knowing the background between the two.

Then again – he took a sip of his coffee – no one could have known. The biggest question lingered at the tip of his tongue.

"When did you meet Sukuna?"

The question halted her from taking a sip of her drink. Her eyes widened as she stared at the foam on the rim of her mug.

Leaning back in his seat, Gojou crossed his arms. "Sukuna could only be making contracts when he is put together. You are aware of his current state, right?"

"What do you mean?" Kagome's voice shook with uncertainty. His current state?

"The history is not well collected and how he came to be 'destroyed', but his curse lingers within his twenty fingers. All twenty of his fingers have been scattered and we are currently out looking for them to destroy them."

The priestess's pupils dilated as she slowly put the puzzle pieces together.

Gojou continued, "Itadori Yuji unfortunately decided to do a stupid and ate one."

Kagome's slightly leaned back, remembering the boy who had tried to stop himself from grabbing her. That was Sukuna inside of him?

"Just like you, he is cursed, and he is to be executed."

"Executed?!" Kagome cut in. "H-He's just a kid! You can't be doing that-!"

"A kid who is now cursed." Gojou stated, tone dropping seriously. "A curse will always be a curse. New or old. Weak or strong. Curses are a threat. Don't forget that, Kagome-san." He knew it was a tough concept to wrap around, especially when he knew a priestess's morals remained cemented on the thought of saving everyone and everything. But Sukuna was a different matter. There was no use in saving him.

Nothing could save him.

"To have met Sukuna," he continued, "it must have been centuries ago, but there is no way that could have happened, right? After all, it's not like-".

"It did happen centuries ago."

Gojou's lips pressed together having her heard her faint whisper.

"It happened a long time ago." She lowered her view down to the table. Brows furrowed at the distant memory she had tried to push to the back of her head. Far away as possible where she could sheathe her fear with it. "But it's a story I don't think you would believe."

"Believe?" Taking a second to study her concerned expression, Gojou turned his head to the window to his left. He rested his elbow over the armchair before placing his chin over his fist. "Take a look around you."

She raised her head, "huh?" Kagome blinked noticing Gojou was observing the pedestrians outside of the café.

"You can see beyond the wall of what others cannot see." It was a statement she could not deny. A statement only those who have seen the worst could understand. "You see them, right?" He asked with a smirk.

Kagome's shoulders dropped watching both pure and corrupted spirits linger and hover in the living world trying to be part of their lives. Spirits could chain down an individual, but if a spirit were to become corrupted, the chain would severely pull them down to their level to cause harm to many. She had seen it herself. She had experienced.

Sukuna was a proof.

"We both live in a world far different from normal people." Gojou continued, grabbing his cup of coffee. "Your story couldn't possibly surprise me much, Higurashi-san." Leaning forward, he held his mug by the handle. "We live in a parallel world far crueler than them. One we share with monsters."

Kagome remained silent as she turned to face the shaman teacher.

"We live in a nightmare every day, Higurashi-san."

Taking another look out the window, Kagome's fingers slowly curled into her lap, scrunching the material of her long navy-blue skirt underneath. He would be the first person to hear her story outside of her family. Would he really believe her? It was gamble. One she was unsure if it would benefit her. She was already – her eyes dropped on her wrist – cursed. A contract had been sealed with another corrupted being and she was sure it was only a matter of time before fate finished writing her end. A deep sigh was blown between her lips.

"Very well…," she whispered, "I'll tell you my story."

Cold and heavy. That was the air waking him up. Itadori's view slowly opened to reveal a blur of water ripples in front of him and human and animals bones scattered on the surface. His fingers curled only to feel water underneath. He grimaced. He had been here before. Grunting in pain, Itadori lifted himself on all fours and looked at the black water reflection beneath him. An inch of calm waters beneath him and the echo of droplets from above made the ripples vibrate one by one. Damn, he hated being here.

"You're awake."

Itadori's brows furrowed as he heard the chilly tone to his left. Coming to a stand, Itadori glared at the man sitting in a throne of bones with a temple shrine cover above him. There he was in all his dark glory looking down on him. Wearing a white loose yukata and a black scarf around his neck to cover the rest of the black markings stretching down to his chest. This was Sukuna's inner world in his body. A world he could enter to speak with him, but only if Sukuna invited him.

So he needed talk.

A scoff was released through the curse's nose. "You know I hate it when you glare at me, let alone, look up. You don't have permission nor the right to do such a thing. You're too weak."

Anger swelled within Itadori as he saw the glee glow on Sukuna's face. "You went after her."

Sukuna's brow rose.

"You attacked an innocent bystander!" Itadori shouted. "The hell were you thinking?!"

"Innocent?" Sukuna chuckled, resting his elbow on the armrest of his bone throne. He placed his cheek over his knuckles, amused to see the boy getting riled up. "And where did you ever hear she was 'innocent'?"

It was Itadori's turn to crook an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Sukuna's smirk was all he got.

"Answer me!" Itadori took a step forward, ripples beneath his foot stretched out further. "You hurt her! She had nothing to do with your stupid curses or you!"

Crossing his legs, right ankle over his left knee, Sukuna sighed heavily. "She's very much involved; she's been involved with me for centuries."

Itadori's froze; eyes widened. What? What the heck was he talking about? Centuries? That was not even possible…right? Before he could continue his boomerang of questions, his guard immediately lifted at the sight of Sukuna coming to a stand from his throne.

"Let me out."

"Not a chance." Itadori barked back; he retreated one step.

"I didn't ask, boy."

Lifting his fists to prepare his stance, Itadori exhaled. "And you don't have a choice." Whatever history Sukuna had with Kagome, it was obvious Kagome had immediately fallen in a pit of fear. If he had to, he would fight his own demon – literally. He took one the role to help Gojou and the rest of the shaman to eliminate Sukuna by being the one to eat all Sukuna's cursed fingers. It was a task to push back his execution. That role itself included protecting the innocent. Sukuna claimed she was not, but he heard it from Gojou himself.

Never trust the devil.

Sukuna's expression darkened with a serious exterior. Rage of his own began to bubble. The bones scattered on the ground rattled as the droplets of water from above the cave-interior room rapidly dropped. "Boy, that woman belongs to me."

A smirk stretched over Itadori's lips, "she seems to disagree."

Sukuna scoffed as he took one step down the stairs made of spines. "She can't disagree; she has no say. She is a curse herself. The contract has been made and I will get what I have been waiting for years. Now…," he took another step down, "let me take over or I'll have to dirty my hands with your blood." He laughed, making Itadori's glare tighten. "See? I'm nice enough to give you a choice."

Even with the black blindfold hiding his eyes, Kagome could tell he was bewildered after hearing the conclusion to her story. A story she had kept secret since she was fifteen. A story of love, betrayal, revenge, and corruption. She knew a story about jumping back in time would have anyone speechless, but mostly out of guessing if she was crazy or not. But, he had to believe at least an ounce of her story. Sukuna was the proof if he needed one. Sukuna remembered her, so there was no doubt he remembered how long ago his 'contract' had been made.

Not that she wanted to go to Sukuna to be proven right. If anything, she wanted to avoid that confrontation.

"See, I knew you wouldn't believe me." She scoffed as she reached for her already cold coffee. "It's an absurd story that I could have pulled out of any fantasy movie." At least, she half wished it had been the case. Not once did she ever regret traveling back in time and dealing with the jewel chaos, but there were a few parts she wished she could have avoided.

"Oh no," Gojou chuckled, "I believe you. I just can't believe one part."

Kagome's brow rose, questioning his smile. "One part?"

"Having gone against Sukuna like that." He crossed his arms as he leaned back in his seat.

"That's what is shocking you? Not the whole traveling back in time thing?" She questioned. Surely he had heard the whole story? Or did he have selective hearing?

Laughing at her perplexed expression, Gojou waved his hand left and right to dismiss her confusion. "That's not what I mean. Your whole story is quite shocking and if you ask me, interesting. You definitely have experience in battle, more than me probably." Gojou sighed as he pointed a finger at the female across. "What am I pointing at is the fact you were able to fight off a threat such as Sukuna."

Kagome pressed her lips together.

"Not many survive that monster, Higurashi-san." His finger shifted to point at her right wrist. "But you have a contract, or should I say a one-sided contract as you explained." From what he had heard, she had no choice but to accept Sukuna's conditions. It was life or death at that moment for her. He hated to word it this way, but she had no choice but to sell her soul to him. At least, for the time being. "Sukuna and other curses are able to lay down contracts, just like he did to you. The moment you accepted the shard, the contract was sealed and done."

Kagome's lips parted to interrupt, but immediately her words halted at the tip of her tongue as she saw Gojou raise his palm to stop her.

"You have become a target now, Higurashi-san."

The priestess's eyes widened, "you mean Sukuna's target…?"

"That…," he nodded, "but you are target for many other curses and those old farts."

Kagome blinked, taken back by the small piece of information. "O-Old farts..?" She understood other curses coming after her for her reiki, but what did he mean by 'old farts'?

Clicking his tongue with annoyance, Gojou ran his fingers through his white hair. "In theory, the head of the shaman schools would want you dead, Higurashi-san."

"Dead?" She repeated. Her eyes lowered back down to her lap. Dead? That meant – "execution?"

"Those old farts think death solves everything, but they forget the core concept of curses. It starts with death and emotions. Sukuna will target you for your power; he seems to have found value in someone who could potentially be a threat to him at the same time. Those in high positions at the shaman schools across Japan will hear about you and want you dead to save themselves the trouble if Sukuna were to get stronger. That includes you." Taking out a letter from his back pants' pocket, he slid the closed beige envelope across the table with his index and middle finger.

Kagome stared at the paper with a red wax seal and the words 'Juryoku' in kanji keeping the letter sealed. 'Juryoku…?' Kagome tilted her head to the side. 'Cursed energy?'

"Accept to become a teacher with me-".

Her eyes rose to meet his smile.

"-and I can protect you from execution."

Saved from execution? Her azure eyes dropped back down on the envelope that would potentially save her from her certain death. A death she knew would come sooner or later. Then that meant – the image of Itadori sprung in her head – he was also being protected by Gojou. No doubt the schools had placed pressure to kill off the young boy right away when they found out Sukuna was resting within his body. It was the perfect opportunity to put an end to Sukuna once and for all. Although, she was quite sure why he was such a threat. Did Sukuna cause tremendous chaos to everyone?

"That's why you have Itadori-kun as a student." She stated.

Gojou's lips cursed upwards as a reply.

The major question floated in her head, forcing her to vocalize it. If she was to make a decision, she needed to know. "Why would you risk yourself for someone like me? You could get in trouble, Gojou-san…".

He agreed with a nod. Resting his chin over his knuckles, he graced her with a smile. "This world is unfair, but I'm the type that likes to go against fate."

The word 'fate' made her eyes flicker with curiosity.

"Even," the smile shifted to a smirk, illuminating his confidence, "if it means the whole world plants its curses on me. Especially when I'm willing to wage my life for those I see have potential to make the world a better place."

Her eyes widened slightly before lowering her vision back onto the letter. This man was ready to risk it all. Ready to place all bets on those he deemed valuable and skilled to lead the world to a better place. He knew what he wanted, and he knew what he was doing. The skin between her brows wrinkled as his words sunk. To others, his words glowed with the characteristics of being a hero. To her…it meant sacrifice. Her expression melted with empathy. "You speak like you're ready to die."

"Hm?" He raised a brow. "I've been ready for that since I started doing what I do."

Fingers tightened their hold on her skirt once again as she felt cold shivers spring on the back of her skin. Images of the three students he was currently training and Sukuna popped in her head before remembering her old feudal friends. They had all sacrificed so much to let her live. To let her live a long life. Her eyes narrowed tightly as she kept her sights glued on the waiting letter. 'I'm bound to die by Sukuna's hands or even by the people Gojou-san speaks of.' She took another look at Gojou who waited with a smile. 'But he's right…it's unfair. Unfair others have chosen my fate.'

Gojou blinked behind his blindfold as he watched the priestess slowly reach for the letter.

"I accept…".

His smile stretched.

"…under one condition."

He relaxed back into his seat.

"Don't let Sukuna do anything to those kids and those you are responsible for. I don't want anyone else to go through what I did with that monster."

Chuckling softly, Gojou nodded slowly. He understood where those words were rooting from. She was currently chained by Sukuna's curse. An unknown curse to her as well. There was no telling what powers laid within the markings on her wrist or – his eyes narrowed – if they marked a time. She gave her condition out of sympathy and fear for others. Others she did not know and for the innocent.

"You have my word, Higurashi-san."

*Ukai Hogo - Bypass Protection

*Junjuina Seiiki - Pure Sanctuary

*Jiji - Mercy

MizukixTsukiyomi's Notes: I hope I didn't confused too many out there with this one-shot. I double hope you all enjoyed it! There are so many one-shots I like to stitch together for a full blown fic, but it does require both demand and patience. I will probably ask in the future what one-shot you would all like to get a sequel. For now, let's leave things at cliffhangers ha-ha!

Please do not forget to review! And thank you for reading! And hope you all love Gojou as much as I do.

Let me know what you think! Thank you for reading and please review! Note: Dimensional Lovers updates every 10 reviews! Due to my other stories taking time as well, if these one-shots become popular, I do make time for them! Because you all deserve to get some fluff/romance/action whatever pairings with Kagome!

Ja~ne!