Yuji was acutely aware of the unyielding fingers dislocating his jaw, and opening his mouth, as wide as possible.

He could smell the first finger even before it entered his mouth, and a sickening feeling settled in his stomach.

"Here, eat up," Kenjaku murmured, and forced the finger down his throat.

Yuji wanted to gag, and spit it out, but his body wouldn't obey him. His head was tilted back, and his mouth was open, and, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't resist.

"Swallow," the sorcerer ordered, and Yuji was forced to do just that.

He choked and spluttered, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Come on, stop being so dramatic. I've got eleven more to go," Kenjaku said, rolling his eyes.

The fingers in Yuji's mouth moved to the back of his throat, and shoved the next finger in. Yuji couldn't breathe, and could barely think, but his mind was still racing, and trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Let's pick up the pace, shall we?" Kenjaku suggested, and laughed. "I haven't got all day."

He shoved another finger into Yuji's mouth, and forced him to swallow, before pushing the third finger in, and repeating the process.

But Yuji wasn't really resisting anymore - he couldn't. Instead, he felt himself being pushed down into the darkness of his own mind, and was soon enveloped by the familiar sensation of helplessness. More fingers were sliding down his throat, and he lost count of the number, and how many were left, as he was forced to ingest more and more.

Sukuna's laughs of triumph echoed in his head, and Yuji could feel him taking control of his body. He was trapped, and couldn't do anything to stop it.

A wave of terror washed over him, and he was overwhelmed with the urge to scream, but the sound was stuck in his throat, and never came out.

Instead, he felt his mouth curve into a wide, satisfied smile, and his eyes narrowed.

"Kenjaku, it's been a long time," Sukuna remarked, and chuckled. "I should thank you. You're finally giving me what I've wanted for so long."

"Hello, Sukuna," Kenjaku greeted him, smirking. "It's been a while. Glad to see you're well."

"As you can see, I'm in top shape. Which is more than I can say for that idiot brat, who's currently sulking in the back of my mind," Sukuna said, shaking his head.

Yuji's heart dropped, and his stomach clenched. He knew that he was trapped, and helpless, but hearing the King of Curses acknowledge his presence, and taunt him, was somehow worse.

"How much time do you reckon you have before he switches back?" Kenjaku inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"After twelve fingers? I'd say at least an hour, maybe more," Sukuna replied, shrugging.

"Enough time for us to catch up," Kenjaku decided, his grin widening. "So tell me, how does he know who I am, and how does he know what I've been up to?"

Sukuna raised an eyebrow, and smiled.

"Oh, that's actually a very interesting story," he said, his eyes shining with amusement.

"Do tell," Kenjaku prompted, eagerly.

"It seems that the brat came back in time from the future, after he died, and he's been trying to change the past. A shame really, because I seemed to be having a lot of fun in his timeline, before he fucked everything up. Ah, well. Maybe I'll get a second chance."

"Interesting," Kenjaku mused, his expression thoughtful. "Would you mind discussing this further in a different location?"

Yuji was helplessly listening to the conversation, and was filled with an overwhelming sense of despair.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

Kenjaku wasn't supposed to figure out who he was. He wasn't supposed to know that Yuji was from the future, or what he was trying to accomplish.

But, more importantly, he wasn't supposed to get his hands on Sukuna.

If Sukuna walked away now with Kenjaku, and joined forces with him, the consequences would be catastrophic, and Yuji wouldn't be able to do a single thing to stop him.

"Leaving already?" a voice spoke up, and Yuji's heart leaped in his chest.

It was Gojo.

Gojo was here.

He was going to save him.

-

Megumi, Ino and Nanami were rushing towards the source of the chanting, the sound getting louder and louder, as they ran.

The silhouette of a person could be seen, standing on the roof of a nearby building, and the chanting was coming from there. As they got closer, Megumi realized it was the silhouette of an old woman, and she seemed to be in a trance, her hands in praying position.

A younger man was kneeling next to her, and seemed to be encouraging her.

Megumi exchanged a look with Nanami, and the man nodded, his expression grim.

"Granny," the younger man called out, his tone urgent. "Please hurry. They are coming."

"Just a bit more," the woman murmured, her eyes closed, and her brow furrowed. "A little longer."

"She's doing a seance," Ino noted, his voice tense.

"Yes," Nanami agreed, his expression hard.

"A seance?" Megumi repeated, not understanding.

"She's trying to summon something," Ino explained. "My cursed technique works similarly. She's probably planning to channel something she can draw power from."

They were approaching the rooftop, and could see the woman clearly, now.

The younger man noticed them, and his expression became alarmed.

"Granny," he called out, his voice frantic. "I'll hold them off. Finish the incantation."

Before Megumi could react, the man was charging towards them, his eyes burning with determination. However, his speed was no match for Nanami, who dodged his attacks with ease, and blocked his kicks, while Megumi and Ino watched in awe.

Despite the younger man's efforts, it was clear he was not the best fighter. His movements were wild and desperate, lacking the precision and skill of an experienced sorcerer. Nanami's expression remained calm as he effortlessly countered each attack, pushing the younger man back with minimal effort.

"This is pointless," Nanami muttered, catching the man's wrist mid-punch and twisting it, causing him to yelp in pain. "You don't stand a chance."

The younger man gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with frustration and fear. "Granny, please!" he shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. "Hurry up!"

Cursed energy flared up around the woman, and her eyes snapped open.

"I'm all set," she whispered, a satisfied smile appearing on her lips.

Megumi noticed something small in the man's hand, almost like a capsule. Before he could discern what it was, he swiftly brought it to his lips and swallowed it in one quick motion.

With that, the man's frame expanded, muscles bulging, and his features morphed into those of a man with jet-black hair—someone Megumi had never seen, yet felt oddly familiar.

"Granny," the man called, his voice deeper and gruffer than before. "I'll handle this. Get yourself to safety."

Before Megumi could blink, the man was standing right in front of him, towering over him. He raised his hand, and, faster than Megumi could react, delivered a sharp blow to his stomach, sending him flying back, and knocking the wind out of him.

Megumi landed on his back, pain lancing through him, and his head swimming.

"Shit," he muttered, struggling to get up.

"Fushiguro," Ino called out, worried. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," he grunted, forcing himself to stand. "When did he get so fast? I couldn't even see him move."

"It's the vessel," Nanami replied, his voice strained, and his tone clipped. "It's giving him power."

Nanami was fighting the man, and seemed to be having a hard time keeping up with his speed. The man was moving so quickly, that Megumi's eyes were barely able to follow his movements.

"He moves like Maki-san, but even faster," Megumi commented, his brow furrowing, as he tried to come up with a strategy.

The old woman was cackling, a demented gleam in her eyes, as she watched the battle.

"Oh, you boys are in trouble, now," she said, a grin spreading across her face. "Grandson, kill them so we can collect the payment."

But then, the man's eyes snapped to her, and a cold rage flashed across his face.

"Who are you to give me orders, you old hag?" he snarled.

The woman's expression morphed into one of fear, and her eyes widened.

"No," she gasped, her hands shaking. "I didn't... I didn't channel the information of the soul. There's no way... no, it's impossible..."

The man lunged at her, and, before anyone could react, had grabbed her by the throat and was holding her aloft.

"You want me to kill sorcerers, huh? Well, you're a sorcerer," he growled, and with that, snapped her neck, and tossed her aside, her body landing with a thud on the roof.

Megumi was stunned.

The man had killed his own grandmother without a moment's hesitation, and with terrifying brutality. It was a cold-blooded murder, and he didn't seem to have a shred of remorse about it.

Nanami's gaze was locked on the man, his expression unreadable.

"Nanami-san, what just happened?" Megumi asked, his eyes never leaving the man's form.

"The vessel must have overpowered the soul. Whoever this is, has an abnormally powerful body," Nanami explained, his tone calm and collected, despite the gravity of the situation. "Be careful. This fight just got a lot harder."

The man's eyes were roving over the three of them, as if he were appraising them. Then, he leapt into the air, his body spinning in a circle, and his foot colliding with Nanami's head. The force of the kick sent Nanami flying back, and he crashed into the side of a building, creating a massive hole in the wall.

The shockwave of the impact rippled through the air, and Megumi felt the force of it in his bones.

The man had barely broken a sweat, and was now regarding him and Ino with a bored expression.

"This is it?" he scoffed. "No wonder the old hag was so confident."

Megumi and Ino exchanged a look, and Megumi immediately summoned Nue.

The man was on them in an instant, his movements so fast that Megumi couldn't follow them. Ino used his curse technique to evade his attacks, but the man seemed unfazed by it, delivering a series of rapid blows to his stomach and face.

Nue attacked the man from behind, and managed to catch him off guard, but the man recovered quickly, and retaliated with a vicious kick that sent the shikigami flying.

"I've never seen someone this powerful," Nanami grunted, staggering out of the hole in the building.

"Is he even using a cursed technique?" Megumi demanded, dodging a punch that cracked the concrete where his head had been.

"If he is, I can't tell," Nanami replied, his brow furrowing.

Megumi swore under his breath, and tried to think of a way out of this situation. The man was relentless, and was barely letting up. He was like a machine, his attacks never stopping, and his speed never faltering.

"Nanami-san," Ino called out, his voice strained, as he tried to keep the man at bay with his cursed technique. "Can you land a blow on him?"

Nanami frowned. "Maybe," he said, after a moment.

"Okay, I'll create an opening," Ino said, and his brow furrowed in concentration.

Megumi summoned two shikigami at once, and instructed them to attack the man.

The man dodged the shikigami's attacks easily, but Ino took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. He struck the man's side, and Nanami followed up with a swift punch to his face.

The man was stunned, and staggered back, but recovered quickly.

"How the hell is he still standing?" Megumi muttered, his brow furrowing.

"His resilience is unreal," Ino agreed, his expression grim.

The man straightened, and brushed himself off, a smirk playing on his lips.

For a moment, he was completely still, and then, in the blink of an eye, he was in front of them, his fist colliding with Ino's chest.

The force of the impact sent the young sorcerer flying back, and he hit the ground hard, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Ino!" Megumi yelled, panic gripping him.

Nanami was beside Ino in an instant, checking his pulse.

"He's alive," Nanami declared. "But he needs medical attention."

Before Megumi could react, the man was on them again, and Nanami took the brunt of his attack, shielding him.

"Rabbit Escape!" Megumi shouted, and his shadow split into a hundred rabbits, which darted in different directions.

The man was momentarily caught off guard, and Megumi took the opportunity to help Nanami to his feet.

"You okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Yeah," Nanami replied, wincing. "Just a few bruises."

The rabbits had created enough of a distraction, and Nanami took the opportunity to attack the man again, his movements swift and precise.

The man dodged the attacks easily, and countered with a series of brutal punches and kicks that left Nanami reeling. He was relentless, and kept pressing his advantage, landing blow after blow, and pushing Nanami back.

Megumi rushed to his aid, summoning two more shikigami, and attacking the man from behind. He knew it was risky, but he was desperate.

Sure enough, the man turned his attention to him, and Megumi had to use every ounce of his strength and concentration to evade his attacks. He could feel himself tiring, and knew he wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer. He knew a Domain Expansion would be his only hope, but his reserves were running low, and the strain of maintaining the Domain would probably be too much for him.

He gritted his teeth, and pushed through, using every ounce of his training and skill to stay one step ahead of the man. But then, his foot slipped, and he stumbled, and the man took advantage of the moment, delivering a devastating kick that sent him crashing into the ground.

He landed hard, the impact knocking the breath out of him, and pain lancing through his body. He lay there for a moment, stunned, trying to catch his breath. He could taste blood in his mouth, and his vision was swimming.

Was this it?

Was this how it would end?

He tried to push himself up, but his arms were shaking, and his muscles burned with exertion.

If he summoned Mahoraga now, he could end the fight. But, he would also end his life. He had no energy left, and his clumsy hold on Reverse Cursed Technique would not be enough to save him.

A cold hand closed around his throat, lifting him off the ground.

Megumi gasped for breath, his vision darkening around the edges.

His fingers twitched, and he instinctively curled them into fists, ready to use his last breath to summon the strongest shikigami and go out fighting.

'Promise you'll come back, okay?'

Yuji's words echoed in his mind, and a wave of emotion crashed over him.

Yuji had gone through more than any one person should have to endure, and was risking his life to save his friends and the people he cared about.

He had lost everything, but had never given up. He had never stopped fighting, never stopped trying to do the right thing. He had watched everyone he cared about get taken from him, and was still here, willing to do whatever it took to save them.

He had gone above and beyond to keep Megumi safe, to give him back his sister, to help him grow, and become the best version of himself. He had done it all, because that was the kind of person he was. Because that was the kind of person he had always been.

He was the bravest, kindest, most selfless person Megumi had ever known. And, if he died here, now, he would be letting him down. He would be failing him, when he had fought so hard to keep him safe.

Yuji was counting on him. Yuji believed in him. Yuji needed him to keep fighting.

Megumi had worked so hard these past weeks, had trained every day, had done his best to learn and improve. And, for what? To give up now, and let Yuji down? To let him think that he had died, when he could have done something about it?

No.

Megumi's jaw clenched, and a new resolve surged through him.

He wouldn't let Yuji down.

He wouldn't die.

Not here, not now.

His fingers twitched, and the world seemed to slow down around him. He could see every detail, every movement, as if he were watching it in slow motion. He could hear the sound of his own heartbeat, and the blood rushing in his ears.

He could feel the grip of the man's hand around his throat, the coldness of his skin, the strength of his fingers. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, the heat of his breath on his face.

His gaze hardened and he looked the man directly in the eye. He was ready to accept the challenge.

For a second, he thought he saw something flicker in those eyes, some distant memory, or a hint of recognition.

The man hesitated, his grip loosening.

"What's your name?" the man asked, his voice softer than before, a note of uncertainty in it.

"Fushiguro," he replied, his tone sharp.

The man's brow furrowed, and his lips parted, as if he wanted to say something, but then his lips curled into a smile, one that held a strange mix of affection and disdain.

"Fushiguro?" he murmured, his gaze never leaving Megumi's. "Not Zen'in, huh?"

The man raised his knife up to his own temple.

"Good for you," he said, and drove the knife into his head.

"Wha—" Megumi gasped, as the man's body crumpled to the ground.

Huh?

Megumi was frozen, his mind racing.

Had the man just... committed suicide?

That's insane, right?

"Fushiguro-kun." Nanami's voice rang behind him.

"Huh?"

"Fushiguro-kun," the older sorcerer repeated. "Do you know who that was?"

Megumi was confused. "Um, no. Do you?"

"I only just realized," Nanami replied. "But yes, I do."

"Who is it?"

Nanami looked down, and then back up, meeting Megumi's gaze.

"Fushiguro Toji."

Megumi's blood turned to ice.

"Fushiguro-kun, that was your father."

-

Gojo was feeling a whirlwind of emotions.

Fear. Guilt. Determination. Anger.

Scratch that - he was fucking furious.

He had never been so furious in his entire life.

He was furious at himself, for not being there. He was furious at Sukuna, for taking control of Yuji's body.

But most of all, he was so fucking overwhelmingly angry at Kenjaku, wearing Suguru like a goddamn costume, that he could barely see straight.

His vision was clouded with red, and his hands were shaking with rage.

He was already on his way when Maki called him, as he couldn't quite shake the ominous feeling he'd been experiencing, and it turned out he was right.

He could tell that Kenjaku did not expect him to show up so fast, and was momentarily thrown off balance.

Good.

Let him be caught off guard.

That would make it easier to kill him.

"Satoru," he greeted, forcing his expression into Suguru's signature smile, but it didn't look right, and Gojo's stomach twisted.

"Don't fucking 'Satoru' me, you fucking psycho," he spat, glaring at him.

He wasn't here to exchange pleasantries, and he was not in the mood to play games.

He was done.

So, so fucking done.

A glint of fear flickered in Kenjaku's eyes, and he quickly masked it.

"Ah, come on, Satoru," he said, his tone mocking. "Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

Gojo gritted his teeth.

"Say one more word pretending to be him, and I swear to God, I'll tear your fucking tongue out," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom.

Sukuna's laughter interrupted the two sorcerers' conversation, and his mouth curved into a wide, satisfied grin.

"Gojo Satoru," he purred. "I can't wait to tear you apart, piece by piece."

"Likewise," Gojo muttered, his fists clenching.

"Oh, but you won't attack me now, will you? It's two against one, and your precious student is currently at my mercy," Sukuna taunted, his tone teasing. "Unless, of course, you don't mind him getting hurt. Which would be perfectly understandable. He's a useless brat, anyway."

Gojo kept his face straight, even though he could feel his temper rising.

"I could easily take both of you, if I wanted to," he said, shrugging.

"Yes, that may be true," Kenjaku conceded, nodding. "But, if you attack me now, and Sukuna escapes, I will not be held responsible for the havoc he will wreak on your students."

"What?" Gojo demanded, stunned.

"It would be a shame, wouldn't it? To have such a promising batch of sorcerers slaughtered, simply because you were being reckless," Kenjaku commented, smirking. "They are still nearby, aren't they?"

Gojo gritted his teeth, and glared at him.

"On the other hand, if you fight Sukuna, I will take that opportunity to disappear, and the two of you can deal with each other. Although, I suspect that at fifteen fingers, he would be a tough opponent, even for you," Kenjaku continued, casually.

Gojo thought about his options.

Yuji's body didn't look injured, and there was no blood on his clothes, so he figured that the boy was fine, other than having been force-fed twelve of Sukuna's fingers. Based on what Yuji had told him about the experience of being controlled by the King of Curses, he suspected that the boy was currently fully conscious, and trapped inside his own mind.

Now that meant that, unlike during the detention center (and whatever happened in Shibuya around this time on Yuji's original timeline), Yuji wasn't incapacitated by his injuries, and he wasn't unconscious.

In fact, Yuji was perfectly aware of what was going on, and could see and hear everything.

Gojo was the type of teacher who had complete trust in his students and their abilities, and he was not going to underestimate Yuji, or dismiss him.

After all, the boy had proven his strength, countless times, and it would be foolish to deny his potential.

So Gojo decided to give Yuji a chance.

If that bastard Kenjaku thought that he had Gojo cornered, and at his mercy, well, he was wrong.

Dead wrong.

Because Gojo wasn't alone, and neither was Yuji.

So, with his resolve steeled, and his mind clear, he gave his student the order.

"Yuji," he called out, and his voice was low and firm. "Fight."

-

Several things happened at once.

Kenjaku's eyes widened, clearly not expecting Gojo to address his student.

His eyes snapped to Sukuna, whose mouth curved into an amused grin, and a dark chuckle rumbled from his throat. But for a split second, his expression changed, and his eyes widened in shock, before the moment passed, and he was back to his usual, smug self.

During the very same moment, Gojo sent a Hollow Purple blast towards Kenjaku, which the sorcerer narrowly avoided, and, at the same time, Sukuna lunged at him.

Kenjaku managed to escape the blast, but only just. He was thrown several meters back, and his left shoulder was badly burnt.

Sukuna's attack on Gojo was stopped by his Infinity, but he didn't waste any time, and he was already forming the hand sign to realize his domain expansion, taking advantage of the distraction.

But just as he was about to execute his move, one of his hands twitched, then curled into a fist, and a loud crunching sound was heard, as his middle and ring fingers were crushed under the pressure of his thumb.

Sukuna froze, and his eyes widened.

"What-"

"Fight," Gojo repeated, and the curse's eyes snapped to him.

Kenjaku wanted to run, but, in a split second, Gojo was in front of him, and his foot connected with the sorcerer's jaw, sending him flying.

"You're not going anywhere, Kenjaku," he said, his expression cold. "You're fucking dead."

Kenjaku staggered to his feet, and wiped the blood from his chin.

Sukuka's fist connected with his own face, and his neck snapped back, before he regained his composure.

"Yuji," Gojo called out, and the boy's eyes found his.

The boy's eyes were wide and panicked, and Gojo smiled at him, reassuringly. It seemed like he still wasn't fully in control, but was fighting to regain it, and Gojo knew that the boy could do it.

"You got this," he assured him. "Now fight."

A look of determination passed across Yuji's face, and his eyes narrowed, just before Sukuna's markings flared up, and he tried to hit Gojo.

He was blocked by Gojo's Infinity, and, at the same time, his other hand smashed his own face, and blood spurted from his broken nose.

Yuji was gaining control, and was doing everything in his power to keep Sukuna in check, and Gojo smirked, turning his attention to the sorcerer standing before him.

Kenjaku had used that momentary distraction to summon a special-grade cursed spirit, but Gojo was pissed, and didn't have time for shit like that.

"Nice try, you motherfucker," he hissed, and blasted the cursed spirit to oblivion.

Then, in a flash, he was behind Kenjaku, his fist connecting with the sorcerer's spine, and the impact cracked the pavement beneath them.

The sorcerer collapsed, his breath coming out in wheezing gasps, and struggled to his feet, his movements laboured and painful.

Just then, Sukuna sent a slashing attack towards Gojo, which was once again blocked by his Infinity, but a few seconds later, he was once again fighting his own body, his limbs jerking in uncontrolled spasms, and his muscles tensing.

His body was trembling with the strain, and his face was covered with blood, which was streaming down from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

Gojo was so proud of Yuji, and so fucking impressed.

Kenjaku saw his opening, and decided to switch tactics.

"Maximum: Uzumaki," he cried out, and cursed energy swirled around him, before gathering behind his back, and taking shape.

A monstrous, grotesque creature took form, its long limbs twisting and curling in a swirling pattern, and its eyes were glowing with cursed energy.

Gojo cursed under his breath, and blasted the creature with a Hollow Purple, which made it stagger, but did not incapacitate it.

"You goddamn fool," he hissed, turning his attention back to Kenjaku. "Are you going to use my best friend's technique against me? You think that's gonna work?"

His voice was laced with so much venom, that the sorcerer took a step back.

Gojo was not in a good place, and his patience had long since worn out. He was beyond furious, and it was time to end this.

Kenjaku was about to open his mouth, but Gojo had enough of listening to him, and, without giving him a chance to say another word, he was right in front of him, and his punch landed straight into his jaw.

It was a powerful blow, which would have snapped the jaw of a normal human, and Gojo followed it up with an uppercut, which connected with his ribs, and sent the sorcerer flying.

Sukuna, meanwhile, was not doing much better. He was struggling to maintain control, and was unable to focus enough to realize his domain expansion, despite his efforts.

"Stop it, brat," he snarled, gritting his teeth. "You can't win this. You're just delaying the inevitable. Just sit back, and enjoy the ride. We'll get along just fine."

If it weren't for the uncontrollable rage burning inside him, Gojo would have laughed, but instead, he settled for a satisfied smirk.

"That's right, Yuji," he murmured. "Keep it up."

Sukuna growled, and launched a new attack.

Gojo easily deflected it, Sukuna cursed loudly, before his face split into a vicious smile.

"Why don't you come over here, and I'll rip your goddamn head off?" he offered, tauntingly.

"Nah, I think I'll stay right here," Gojo said, shrugging. "Besides, you can't reach me."

"Fuck you," Sukuna spat.

"Hey, I'm not the one who's stuck," Gojo pointed out, casually.

"Oh, I'll be out of here soon enough," the curse promised, his eyes glinting dangerously. "I'll show you what a real fight looks like. Did you know that I can see the brat's dreams? He has nightmares of your death, did you know that? He cries in his sleep. You want to know how you die? It's a real mess. You'll never see it coming. I'm going to take my time. I'm going to savour every second. I'll-"

His fist smashed into his own face, and cut off his tirade.

"Yeah, I'll just take your word for it," Gojo muttered.

"It'll be a massacre," Sukuna growled. "A slaughter."

"Mhm."

"You're dead, you-"

He was cut off, again.

"Yuji," Gojo called out, softly. "Keep going. You can do it."

A muffled whimper was the response, and Gojo felt a surge of emotion rise inside him.

Yuji was strong, and so fucking brave.

He was trying his hardest, and he wasn't giving up.

"Don't stop," Gojo whispered. "Keep going. Just a bit more. I'm here. I'm right here."

A sob came from Yuji's lips, and a tear escaped from his eye.

"It hurts," he gasped, and his voice was barely audible.

"I know, Yuji. I'm sorry. It's going to be alright," Gojo assured him. "Keep going."

Kenjaku's monster curse charged, and attacked him, but it was met with another blast from his Hollow Purple.

Time to end this.

Kenjaku was struggling to his feet, his left arm hanging limply by his side, and his body covered in burns and bruises.

Gojo could feel his blood boiling, and, at the same time, a sense of calm settled over him.

"This is why you wanted to seal me, right?" he asked, his voice low. "Because you know you can't beat me?"

Kenjaku did not answer, and his expression hardened.

"Fuck you, and your sick experiments," Gojo hissed, his fists clenching. "And just so you know, the one that brought your downfall wasn't me. It was him," he said, his tone filled with contempt, as he gestured towards Yuji, whose body was once again convulsing, his limbs jerking, as he fought to control it. "The vessel you created. The one that is currently keeping Sukuna contained. He is the one that killed you. I'm just here to finish the job."

Kenjaku's eyes were wide with fear, and he was staring at him, as if he were seeing him for the first time.

"You're afraid of me," Gojo stated, his eyes narrowing.

He wasn't going to lie, the thought made him feel quite good about himself.

"Good," he continued, nodding. "You should be."

And, before Kenjaku could utter a single word, he was in front of him, his fist colliding with the sorcerer's chest, and a sickening crunch was heard, as his ribs broke, as red and black sparks flew, and Kenjaku collapsed, coughing up blood.

"Oh, that ended up being a Black Flash," Gojo commented, conversationally.

He didn't mean for that to happen, but, then again, he wasn't complaining.

"That was for Suguru," he hissed, crouching beside the sorcerer, who was wheezing, his eyes wide and desperate. "For using his corpse as your goddamn puppet. For desecrating his memory. And this," he said, a ball of purple energy gathering in his hand, and his gaze locked with the sorcerer's. "Is for Yuji. You sick fuck."

The Hollow Purple blast exploded on Kenjaku's face, leaving a smoking crater where his skull had been.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," Gojo muttered, getting to his feet.

There was silence, and Gojo turned his attention to Yuji, whose body had stilled, and was breathing hard, and whose eyes were squeezed shut.

Gojo approached him slowly, his eyes never leaving the boy.

"Yuji," he called, his tone gentle. "Can you hear me?"

There was a sharp intake of breath, and a choked sob, as Yuji struggled to answer.

"Gojo-sensei," he croaked, and his voice was filled with relief.

Gojo knelt in front of him, and looked him over, carefully.

The boy's face was covered with blood, his nose was clearly broken, and his clothes were ripped and torn.

Gojo's hand touched his cheek, and Yuji leaned into the touch, his eyes watering, and tears rolling down his face.

"You did good," Gojo told him, and the boy hiccupped, a pained whine escaping him, as he buried his face into the man's chest, and clutched his shirt.

Gojo's arms wrapped around him, and he held him, rocking him, as the boy shook, and cried, his shoulders shaking, and his sobs muffled by the fabric of the man's shirt.

"Shhhh, it's over," Gojo whispered, stroking his hair. "It's okay, now. You did it."

Yuji let out a strangled sob, and his arms tightened around the man, his grip almost painful.

"I- I didn't...I wasn't..."

He looked so broken, and his voice was so small and quiet, that it reminded Gojo of the time when he woke up in the infirmary, months ago. The complete helplessness, and utter despair in his eyes was the same.

Gojo's heart broke at the sight, and he couldn't stand it.

Yuji looked up at him, his eyes red-rimmed and wet, his expression vulnerable, and so, so sad.

"Sensei," he whispered, his voice cracking, and his eyes filled with anguish. "I- I can never see Megumi again now, can I?"

And with that, all the remaining pieces of Gojo's shattered heart fell apart.