"Ahhhhh, I missed being able to manifest!" Kuragari used a tree to stretch out her shoulders. "It gets really cramped in there, you know?" Her head turned up, cat-like eyes staring straight into yours.

"You're welcome, by the way."

"Why should I thank you for basically imprisoning me in my own domain?"
You leaned against the tree, crossing your arms.

"It was for a good purpose," you replied. "I need to keep those humans in check."

"You say that as if you're not one yourself." She straightened.

"After living 200 years, I sometimes question that." You stood in the middle of the clearing, the sky turning a blood red.

"It's been a while since I've been in your Domain," Kuragari said, looking around. "Want to refine your control more?"

"With so many powerful sorcerers and curses popping up, I need to stay on top of them," you replied, pulling your glove.

"Always need to be the one in control," Kuragari sighed. "Will there ever come a time where you hand the reigns over to someone else? Let them take the responsibility?" You blinked at her, raising a brow.

"What are you insinuating?" You asked. "That I allow people to assert themselves over me?" The first strike was quick--the thick trees bowed at the shockwave that came with it. Kuragari's fist was clenched in your own hand. Kuragari leaned forward, coming nose-to-nose with you.

"Hey--wanna know why you're so close with Satoru?"
Your brows furrowed.

"What does this have anything to do with what we're doing?"

"He's a lot like her."
Kuragari went flying miles away from your position, body smashing into the dark ocean of your domain. You appeared in the middle of it, standing on a portruding rock. Kuragari breached to the surface, hair clinging to her face and neck.

"I can see you're still sour about this topic."

"Why are you bringing her up?" You asked. "She has nothing to do with this--she is nothing like Satoru." Kuragari's body rose to above the surface, bare feet standing on the water.

"Remember when Asuka said she'd find you, no matter who or where she is?" Kuragari asked, her shark teeth gleaming, even in the moonlight. "White hair--crystal blue eyes. Goofy, outgoing personality, but serious and dire when needed. Protective. Powerful." Your eyes narrowed.

"What are you implying?" You asked, the water around you beginning to pull up around you.

"Nothing, nothing." She waved, her eyes taking on a glow. "Let's start."

~
Itadori came running at you, his cursed energy surrounding his hands. With a heavy grunt, he threw a punch at you. You grabbed his fist, negating his cursed energy before throwing him over your shoulder. He landed on his ass with a grunt, quickly rolling to his knees to rub it.

"Ow, ow..."

"Some cursed spirits revert to physical combat," you explained, "So you can't let yourself be susceptible to it. Along with your Divergent Fist, if you master basic close-combat, you could be a force to be reckoned with."

"Ohhhh..." His eyes sparkled. "Teach me!" He grinned widely. You looked over to Satoru, and he just shrugged. You shrugged as well.

"Shit, okay," you agreed. Itadori hollered and whooped. "But don't blame me if you suffer from broken bones."

"... eh?"

~
"So what is it you want me to do, exactly?" You asked. Satoru leaned against the wall adjacent to yours.

"You and I both know Kuragari can sense and identify curses, well before us," he explained. "I want you to track down the unregistered special grades."

"And what about school? The teachers? Higher ups?"

"I'll deal with them," he replied. "Just don't exoricse them, even if they engage first."

"Tell that to Kuragari," you replied.

"Can you do it?"

"Of course I can."

~
Can you sense it? Of course I can--I recognize one of the signatures. Nanami Kento. You walked into the underground lair--that was really just the sewage system. Explosions and crashing echoed through the tunnel. You seem to know every cursed spirit here, who's fighting Nanami? A cursed spirit named Mahito. I see. When you turned a curve, you saw Mahito and Nanami facing off, with the latter clutching his midsection.

"What's goin on here?" You asked, presenting yourself. The two men turned to look at you.

"L/n-san!" Nanami exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh? Who're you?" Mahito tilted his head at you, curious. But then something clicked, because his expression changed to glee.

"Kuragari!" He exclaimed happily. Your brow twitched immediately.

"My name isn't Kuragari..."

"I've heard so much about you!" He bounded up closer to you.

"L/n-san, be careful!"
Mahito grabbed your hands.

"Ehhhh~! You're a lot more intersting up close!" Mahito smiled.
You could feel your soul being tugged at--ripped and twisted. That's when the surrounding area changed. From a dark sewer to a dusky battlefield. Rotting bodies laid strewn about it, spears and blades forever skewering them to the ground. Mahito looked around.

"It's been a while since someone's tried to touch our souls."
Mahito looked up the hill. Kuragari stood, eyes glaring down at him.

"Kuragari Kanzaki..." Mahito gasped out.

"I don't need to sit upon a throne of bones to seem intimidating, unlike some," Kuragari spat out. "Lay your filthy hands on our soul again—you will be destroyed with no hesitation." Her eyes turned to slits, taking on a bright glow.

"Know your place, weakling." Her pupils shrank into needles, and Mahito's arm twisted, before ripping from his shoulder. Blood spurted from the stump, pouring onto the ground below. In the next second, you two were out of Kuragari's domain.

Nanami's eyes looked down at your wrist, noticing the bangle missing.

You crossed your arms with a sigh.

"See, this wouldn't have happened if you kept your hands to yourself," you said, walking closer to Mahito, who didn't look that well. Remember what Gojo said, don't exorcise him. You paused. Of course.

"L/n-san," Nanami spoke, "It's alright. I can handle this myself."

"Yeah, I know you hate overtime." You rubbed your head. "But this spirit is troublesome. It'd be annoying if you got killed by something as small as this."

"Gojo-san made you come here, didn't he."

"Yes, he did."

"That idiot."

Ja ne!

{Ruby Red}