CHAPTER 4:
Over my dead body.
Sakura

This isn't what I had in mind at all!

Megumi-kun quickly made haste and it was up to Itadori-kun and I to take down this Curse before it could kill anyone else.

"Itadori!"

He groaned, his body so stiff as it lay on the ground and the special grade was slowly making its way towards us.

I have to protect him.

I can't let him die!

It giggled before releasing another blast of cursed energy, to which I stood infront of Itadori-kun and my veins became hot with the fire preparing to be let out.

I'll make a fire wall, so it'll have to burn before getting to us.

But just as the flames licked my fingertips, Itadori-kun grabbed my arm and threw me behind him.

"Itadori! No! You can't take a blast like that!" I shouted, forcing myself up but it was already too late. He was holding back the cursed energy blast with his hand, the blood not even having a chance to trickle down as it burned his fingertips and going further down the nub.

"We need you. . .to save your energy for Sukuna!" He cried out, choking on a sob.

All that pain. . .

I would've been able to take it.

Bringing my right hand back and my left hand forward, I forced my energy into the fire ball collecting into my hand and stretching to my right, quickly releasing it and I felt the warmth of the fire pass my cheek and fall out of my hands just as Itadori-kun fell back into me.

"Agh!" I hit the stone wall first and then his body hit mine, forcing me back further and my spine fractured.

Shit!

Fuck, that hurts!

To keep myself from crying, my nails dug into his shoulders. My hands were the only things with strength at this point, and I could feel how deep they went.

Despite the immense amount of pain, I still looked up and was thankful to see the left side of his face charred and burned.

And it wasn't regenerating.

"I was so full of myself," Itadori-kun muttered.

"I thought I was strong. I thought I was atleast strong enough to choose when I died," He lifted up his burnt hand, "but I was wrong."

"I'm weak! I'm far too weak!" He stood up, my hands falling at my sides and his blood dripping off my nails.

"Itadori-kun. . ." I muttered weakly.

"Augh, I don't want to die! No! No way! But. . .I am going to die," He sobbed.

He's going into hysterics.

Or. . .does he really believe that?

I forced myself up, the sound of my bones cracking back into place filling the void around us.

"You're not going to die," I groaned as the last bone snapped into place, my voice visibly changing as the black letters on the side of my body started shifting.

"I won't let you."

Jujutsu Sorcerers never die without regret.

And I sure as hell won't let my friend die, or let Sukuna escape.

He cried out as he ran forward with pure cursed energy in his clenched fist, aiming straight for its face, but it caught him right before they could collide.

"Damnit!"

But a sound of encouragement and relief filled the air in the form of one of Megumi-kuns' Demon Dogs, giving us the go.

He found her.

They're safe.

The air shifted as Itadori-kun quickly recognized it as the signal, and his body was possessed by Sukuna. I went from being strong and determined to an insecure little girl again.

Wondering why she didn't have parents.

Even the special grade realized the change, and backed away in fear.

"What a thoroughly annoying brat. He's obviously screwing with me," Sukuna put his hand on his chin before patting the special grades shoulder, "Hold on a moment, I'm thinking right now."

Can he not feel my presence?

"Sakura," He spoke to me, back turned, "What can I do to make that brat regret this?"

He's asking. . .me?

He finally turned around to face me, meeting me eye-to-eye, and I felt so small and I hated that feeling. It's like being judged by a relative you haven't seen since you were a kid, only this one is your demonic father.

"Ah, my little flower petal," He walked towards me, and lifted his hands and I flinched away.

"You're. . .you're scared of me? Sakura, never in a million years would I harm my own daughter," I froze when his hand caressed my face.

"You have your mothers hair, and her eye shape. I always knew you'd be as beautiful as her."

What about the special grade?

How is he so focused on me?

"How old are you now, Sakura? One thousand and thirteen?" He asked, removing his hand from my face.

"N-no, I'm two hundred and fifteen," I stuttered out.

"Two hundred? But, you were born. . ." His face visibly darkened and I hoped to any god listening that he didn't figure out what they had done to me.

Shit.

If he's figured it out, then everyone's lives are at risk.

"Hey, let's go kill some kids. Follow me," He gestured to the special grade, his hand regenerating as he did so.

"What?! No!" I ran to his side and grabbed him by the arm, and even if his gaze wasn't threatening towards me, it still sent chills up my spine.

"They aren't responsible for that, the-" He grabbed the back of my head and held it to his chest as the special grade attacked. Putting out his hand to stop it, it didn't even touch him and only went past the both of us.

"Ah shit, I healed this one too," He muttered, looking at his hand before looking down at me.

"You have to be more careful, Sakura."

Why is he acting like this with me?

"You don't like walks? Well, cursed spirits are usually supposed to stay where they're born. Fine, fine, in that case. . ." Just as he was by my side a moment ago, he vanished.

"You die here," And he slammed its head into the concrete.

He-he was just. . .

How did he. . .?

"Hey, what's the matter? You're not finished already, are you?" He taunted, and it started to move, "that's it, come on, try harder."

I can't stay here.

I have to find Megumi-kun.

Dropping down onto the floor, I let my nose take me to him and caught onto his scent. It wasn't hard to find him in normal places, but with this incomplete Innate Domain, I just hope it doesn't take too long.

___________

"Sakura!"

"Megumi!"

I collapsed into his arms, and his hands rested on my waist.

"Sakura, where's Itadori? Is he safe?"

"Megumi, we need to go. No, you need to go," I pleaded and he became confused.

"What are you talking about? Where's Itadori?"

"There's no time, you-"

"Sorry, but he's not coming back," We both froze as he appeared behind Megumi.

He must have followed me out.

"Don't be so frightened. I'm in a great mood right now, let's chat for a bit," He walked forward and Megumi only held onto me tighter, his heart racing.

"This is what he gets for trying to use me without any kind of pact. Feels like he's having some trouble switching back. Still though. . ." He ripped off Itadoris' school shirt, the black markings now clear as day.

"It's only a matter of time," He grinned.

"I thought about what I can do right now," He plunged his hand into his chest, blood spilling out of his mouth.

"Wh-what are you. . ." Megumi stuttered out just as he yanked out Itadoris heart, and more blood flooded out of his chest as he grinned maliciously.

"I'm taking this brat hostage."

"Hostage?!" He glared.

"Yeah. I can live without this, but that ain't true for the brat," He tossed his heart to the ground.

"Switching out with me means he dies. Also. . .for good measure," He swallowed another finger, meaning that the special grade back there had one.

"With that, I'm free as a bird. You can be frightened now. I'll kill you!" His hands made a sickening cracking sound and veins started to protrude from them.

"For no particular reason. Now, Sakura, move out of the way, peta-"

"No," I stood my ground, taking my place infront of him.

"No? If he's your play thing, we can find you another-"

"I said no, Sukuna. I won't let you hurt him, or anyone else," I threatened, my nails sharpening and my fangs protruding from my mouth even more.

"You just don't get it," Megumi got into his fighting position, "He's. . .Itadori's coming back. Even if that means he'll die. That's just who he is."

He has too.

Even if he's afraid.

"You give him too much credit. This guy's just a little tougher and denser than other humans," He wiped his mouth of the leftover blood, "Just a moment ago, he was scared out of his mind, on the verge of death, and prattling on about his regrets and all that nonsense."

"I know for a fact he doesn't have the guts to kill himself."

"It-it was hesitation," I spoke up, trying to buy more time, "I know Itadori wouldn't risk the lives of innocent people. He just wouldn't!"

"You put too much faith in these humans, Sakura. He's in with those who decided to put you to sleep. He would kill you in a heartbeat if they asked," Sukuna glared at Megumi.

"She isn't like you. She'll never be like you," He defended me before his hands came together to summon a Shikigami and the black letters on my body started shifting again.

I kept my eyes fixed on Sukuna as Megumi ran around him, prepared to use my flames to burn his body.

"I'm finally outside again, so let's use the open space," Sukuna smirked as Megumi came at him, throwing punches and kicks, but he dodged almost every one.

"Interesting. You use Shikigami, but you'll still come at me yourself?" He wasn't fooled and ducked as it swooped for him, smiling as Megumi started to move Sukuna closer to me with every missed attack.

"Megumi!" I shouted as a warning and he quickly moved out of the way as I sent a targeted wave of cursed energy at Sukuna, taking down the trees surrounding us in a quick sweep.

But it didn't work, and I realized that as he landed safely back onto the ground.

"Ah, a targeted wave. Impressive, but I have much more to teach you-" He was cut off as Megumi came at him again, but he grabbed Megumi by the arm and pulled him in.

"Put more curse behind it when you strike me!" It hit me like a truck when he back handed Megumi so hard that he immediately started to bleed.

That he wasn't playing anymore.

He wanted blood.

"Orochi!" His Shikigami came up from the ground, capturing him in his mouth, and taking him up to the skies to meet up with the other.

"Gang up on him!" Megumi shouted as lightning collected around the flying one, aiming straight for Sukuna and consistently blasting him.

Please work.

But with just one push of his arms outward, the Shikigami exploded.

"Hey," Sukuna appeared behind Megumi, "what did I just say?"

"Let's use the open space!" And threw his body into the trees that were still up before flying up towards him and crashing him into the buildings.

"Megumi!" I cried out, flying off the ground, but I was held back by a hand grabbed my shirt.

"Now now, don't fight this-"

"Shut up!" I screamed, so angry that I didn't even care about what he might do to me.

"Leave him alone! They were all right about you! You're nothing but a monster and you didn't even love my mother, did you?! You just watched as they burned her corpse on a fucking stick!" I was furious. I had hoped that maybe he had changed after having me, after falling in love with a human, but she meant nothing to him.

She was a woman in love with a beast who only used her for power.

"Peta-"

"I said, shut up!" My voice darkened as my hands grabbed him by the throat and I dove down with him, dragging his body through the concrete and digging my nails into his throat just to try and cause him the pain he caused Megumi and I.

"I hate you!"

And threw his body through a building, barely remembering that my hatred for him didn't matter right now and ran when I spotted Megumi on the floor with his torn up Shikigami.

"Megumi," He looked up at me.

"S-Sakura-"

"Don't speak, just-" But when I reached for my viles of blood, I hissed in pain when glass cut my finger.

Shit.

They're all broken.

"I get it now. So your shikigami are created from shadows," Sukuna pointed out as a low growl rumbled in my chest.

He's not even phased by what I said.

"So what?"

"I don't get it though. Why did you run back then?" He chuckled.

"What a waste of talent."

"Whatever. Either way, that won't be able to fix this. You're risking your life over stupid shit. This brat isn't even worth that much."

He is worth fighting for.

He's our friend.

Despite being ready to fully take on Sukuna and risk my being to take him down, Megumi got up and a chill went up my spine as he imbued himself with cursed energy and it circulated through him like it was brand new.

If this is how it's going to end, then so be it.

"Nice, so that's it. So this when you start burning through your life! Now I see," Sukuna stepped forward, "so in that case, show me, Fushiguro Megumi!"

"Sacred treasure swing and ring, Eight-" But he stopped, and I felt it all fade away.

Megumi?

"Just so you know, I don't have any logical reason for saving you back then. Even if it was dangerous, I couldn't bear to see a good person like you die," Megumi explained, hoping to reach Itadori.

"I did have my reservations, but ultimately, it was for selfish, emotional reasons. That's fine, though. I'm not a hero. I'm a jujutsu sorcerer. So I've never once regretted saving you," He put his hands down and smiled as Sukuna faded away, and Itadori came back to us.

"Itadori-kun. . .?" I asked carefully, my guard completely falling and my heart racing.

"I see. You really are smart, Fushiguro. You've put more into this than I have," He smiled brightly, bringing one to my face as well.

"I think your conviction's a proper one, but I don't think mine is wrong either," But just as I was happy to have my friend back, the world reminded us what this meant by his blood beginning to pour again.

"Oh, sorry, I'm almost done for. Guess I won't have to worry about you, Sakura, Kugisaki, or Gojo-sensei. Live a long life," He let out before collapsing infront of us, and the rain started to pour.

I hate you. . .

I hate you so much, Sukuna. . .

I felt the tears coming but stopped myself when I heard a small cry come out of Megumi, and turned to him as his bottom lip trembled.

I opened my arms out and he looked to me, and I nodded as the tears started slip out.

He collapsed into my embrace, his face buried in my neck and I could feel his tears as his shoulders shook.

"It's okay, Megumi. . .we both lost someone today," I sobbed, my hands grasping his shirt as I thought of the friend I lost today.

And the hopes that were crushed by a man I thought could be saved.

//////
Wow I almost started crying, okay.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! It took awhile, and just so you know, the power you saw from Sakura is only a fraction of what she can do since she and the Elders don't know what other abilities she could have inherited from Sukuna.