A/N: Hi guys, I know it it's past Sunday, but sometimes people get busy and have things come up that affect their posting schedule. I promise two days isn't worth being rude to the authors over, so please be patient with us writers when things don't go as planned! <3

Bumping into Gojo the second the three of them entered the school was the last thing Megumi had wanted, but here they were. The sorcerer was sitting on a bench, enjoying a popsicle and looking out at the setting sun.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, as soon as he saw them. "Looks like you've been busy."

Megumi felt his cheeks go red. He knew that he would have to talk to Gojo and admit that he and Choso had gone behind his back, but he hadn't been looking forward to it.

"You could say that," Megumi replied, his voice neutral.

Gojo stood up, towering over them. His blindfold was in place, but Megumi could feel his eyes boring into him.

"We found Hana. We got her to agree," Megumi said, his tone firm. "And we're gonna go through with the procedure tomorrow morning. You can't stop us."

"Oh, I know," Gojo replied, sounding amused. "I'm not gonna stop you."

"What?"

Gojo laughed.

"You sound surprised, Megumi-chan," he teased.

"Aren't you pissed that we went behind your back?" Megumi asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Choso was looking rather uncomfortable next to him, his gaze fixed on the ground. But Gojo didn't seem bothered in the slightest.

"I knew you were gonna go after Hana," the sorcerer replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"You... you what?" Megumi was completely thrown.

Gojo chuckled.

"When I told Yuki about her, I had a feeling that she would tell Choso. After all, he must have been very worried about Yuji. And I also had a feeling that Choso would tell you. He knows that you would do anything to get Yuji back. So, yeah. I knew you would go after Hana."

Megumi couldn't believe what he was hearing. How the hell did Gojo figure out all that?

"You're crazy," he muttered.

"Nah, just perceptive," Gojo replied, smirking. "And, frankly, Megumi-chan, you needed this. I was getting worried. I don't want you to lose hope. By doing this yourself, you proved to yourself that you could do it. That you could save Yuji. And you can. You will. But not alone. Not by yourself. You'll have me, and Yuki, and Hana, and all the others. So, no, I'm not pissed. I'm proud. And I'm happy for you."

Megumi was stunned. He didn't know what to say.

Hana, who had been quiet up until now, stepped forward.

"It's nice to meet you," she said, extending her hand towards Gojo. "I'm Hana."

"Nice to meet you, Hana," Gojo replied, shaking her hand. "We have met before, though."

Megumi's eyes widened. So Gojo knew about that too?

"Yes, we did," Hana replied, smiling brightly. "You and Megumi saved my life."

"So you recognized Megumi," Gojo said, grinning. "I thought so."

"Yes, of course," Hana said. "The hair gives him away. And the eyes."

Gojo chuckled.

"So, Hana," he said, his tone casual. "Are you really willing to go through with this? Are you really willing to share your body with an ancient sorcerer?"

Hana nodded.

"I am. I've been looking for a purpose in my life. Something I can do to make a difference. And Megumi told me about the danger the world is facing if Sukuna ever gets his own body back. If sharing my body with Angel is what it takes to save the world, then I'm more than willing to do it."

"You're a good kid," Gojo said, smiling. "And I'm glad Megumi and Choso found you."

"Yeah, me too," Hana replied, returning his smile.

"Now," Gojo said, clapping his hands together. "Everyone, get some rest. Tomorrow's a big day. I'll let Yuta and the others know. Hana, I'll get you set up in one of the rooms here. Next to Tsumiki-chan, if you're okay with that. Megumi, Choso, we'll talk in the morning. Good night, everyone!"

And with that, the sorcerer turned around and walked off, leaving a stunned Megumi, a relieved-looking Choso, and an excited Hana behind.

"Well, that went better than expected," Megumi said, after a few moments of silence.

"Yes, indeed," Choso replied, sighing in relief.

Hana was practically beaming.

"So, how did you two meet?" she asked, looking at Megumi and Choso. "Choso, you seem older than us."

"Oh, I'm 150 years old," Choso said, casually.

"What?!"

"It's a long story," Megumi said, chuckling. "But basically, he's Yuji's half-brother."

"Oh," Hana said, looking confused. "Well, then, that makes sense."

"It's a complicated family tree," Choso added, grinning.

Hana laughed.

"Yeah, sounds like it."

"So, are you nervous about tomorrow?" Megumi asked, concerned.

"A little bit, yeah," Hana replied, looking a bit sheepish. "But I'm more excited, honestly. It's gonna be an adventure."

"It is," Megumi agreed, smiling.

"So, what now?" Hana asked, glancing between the two men.

"I'll show you to the girls' dormitories," Megumi said. "We'll get you settled in and then we can all get some sleep."

"Okay, great," Hana said, her smile returning. "Lead the way."

-

Yuta didn't sleep much that night. He couldn't stop thinking about the events of the past week, how everything had changed.

He felt for Yuji, for what he was going through. He understood the feeling of being powerless, of not being able to stop bad things from happening. He knew the guilt and the self-loathing that came with it. And he knew how it could eat away at you, how it could consume you if you weren't careful.

But the thought of forcing an innocent girl to share her body with a centuries-old sorcerer was too much. Even if she was willing, Yuta couldn't help but think that there had to be another way.

But there wasn't.

Yuta would have to use Idle Transfiguration once again tomorrow - the one technique he loathed with all his being.

As the night wore on, his mind raced, thinking about what was to come. He couldn't help but feel that the pressure of the task before them was mounting, and the stakes were higher than ever.

Yuta's thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in," he called, sitting up.

The door opened, revealing Maki.

"Hey," she said, her voice soft.

"Hey," Yuta replied, offering her a small smile.

Maki entered the room and closed the door behind her.

"Can't sleep?" she asked, sitting down on the edge of his bed.

"No," Yuta admitted. "Too much on my mind."

"I thought so," Maki replied, reaching out to brush a lock of hair from his forehead. "You've got that look."

"What look?" Yuta asked, arching an eyebrow.

"That serious look," Maki said, her tone teasing. "Like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."

Yuta sighed.

"Something like that, yeah," he replied, his voice low.

"Yuta," Maki began, her voice serious. "I know how hard this is for you. And I know you don't want to use that technique. And I also know that you're the only one who can do it. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Yuta said, shaking his head. "I'm fine. I'll do what needs to be done."

"I know you will," Maki replied, her eyes soft. "But you shouldn't have to."

Yuta looked at Maki, really looked at her, and he saw the concern and worry in her eyes. It was strange, seeing her like this, when she was usually so tough and self-assured. But the thought that he could bring out this side of her, that she cared about him that much, it was overwhelming.

"I'm okay," Yuta repeated, reaching out to take her hand, without really thinking about it.

Maki stared down at their joined hands, and for a moment, Yuta was afraid that he had crossed a line. But then, she laced her fingers through his, her thumb gently stroking the back of his hand.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

They sat there in silence for a while, their hands clasped together. It was strangely intimate, and Yuta couldn't deny the warmth he felt spreading through his body.

"You should get some sleep," Maki finally said, breaking the silence. "You'll need your strength for tomorrow."

"I know," Yuta replied, sighing. "But I can't seem to fall asleep."

"You want me to stay?" Maki asked, her voice hesitant.

Yuta's heart skipped a beat.

"You'd do that?" he asked, surprised.

"If you want me to," Maki said, shrugging.

Yuta swallowed.

"I'd like that."

"Okay," Maki said, smiling slightly. "Then scoot over."

Yuta did as he was told, making room for Maki. She lay down next to him, and Yuta suddenly realized just how small his bed was. He could feel the warmth of her body next to him, and he couldn't help but think how perfect it felt, how right.

He wondered how Yuji and Megumi could share a bed each night for months without realizing how they truly felt about each other. It seemed so obvious to him now - how his feelings for Maki had grown, how they had changed, how he had slowly fallen in love with her.

And, he knew that Maki had feelings for him, too. She wouldn't have offered to stay with him if she didn't. And the fact that she had taken his hand, that she was lying here with him now, it was proof of that.

But they both knew that this wasn't the time. They had more important things to focus on. They would have to deal with their feelings later.

Still, Yuta couldn't help but be grateful for Maki's presence. She was a calming force, and her closeness made him feel less alone. He knew that he would be able to get some sleep now, and that he would be ready for what lay ahead.

"Thank you," he murmured, as he drifted off.

"You're welcome," Maki whispered, and he felt her press a gentle kiss to his temple.

He was asleep in minutes.

-

Idle Transfiguration worked.

Hana was lying in the bed in the infirmary, unconscious. There was a steady beeping sound from the machine next to her, and her vitals were strong. She was sleeping, but she was still there.

Angel was there, too.

Just as Yuta finished using the technique, the change in cursed energy was almost instant. It was clear to everyone that Angel was now incarnated within Hana, and Megumi felt a rush of emotions - relief, excitement, and a tinge of apprehension.

"She's gonna be okay," Gojo said, a grin on his face. "She'll be awake in a few hours. You should all go get some rest."

Megumi nodded.

"Good," he said, sighing. "It's done."

"It is," Yuta said, a slight smile on his face.

"Thank you," Megumi said, looking at him. "For doing this."

"Of course," Yuta replied, his smile widening. "I'm glad it worked."

Megumi just wished Yuji could already be there, be back with them.

"So, how are we going to do this? Does Itadori-kun know what the plan is?" Nanami asked, his expression serious.

"No, he doesn't. We won't reveal the plan to him until the last minute, so that Sukuna doesn't have time to react," Gojo replied. "It's a bit of a long shot, but if it works, we can finally separate Sukuna from Yuji."

"I see," Nanami said, his brows furrowed.

"We'll wait for Hana to wake up, and we'll talk to the Angel to make sure we're all on the same page. Then, I'm gonna bring Yuji back here, and we'll put the plan in motion," Gojo continued.

"And you're sure the Angel will go along with it?" Nanami asked, his tone dubious.

"Positive," Gojo said, flashing the man a toothy grin. "Yuji wrote in his notebook that the Angel's whole motivation for joining the Culling Games was to kill Sukuna. She's not gonna pass up a chance like this."

"If you say so," Nanami said, his expression neutral.

Megumi was getting impatient. He didn't want to sit around and wait for Hana to wake up. Yuji was probably anxious and lonely. The sooner they could bring him home, the better.

"Can't we just wake her up? Why do we have to wait?" Megumi asked, annoyed.

"It's better to let her wake up on her own. Her body has gone through a huge change. Let her get used to it," Gojo replied, his tone casual.

Megumi sighed.

"Fine."

"Go see your sister, Megumi-chan," Gojo said, patting his student on the back. "She's been worried about you."

"Okay," Megumi replied, his expression softening.

It had been a couple days since he saw Tsumiki. Ever since Kenjaku's attack, Megumi didn't really spend much time outside his room. He replied to Tsumiki's texts, but he never visited her in person.

He felt bad about it, but he had been too consumed with his own pain and suffering to reach out to her.

But now, Megumi had something to be hopeful about. So, he decided to listen to Gojo, and he went to visit his sister.

"Hey, Tsumiki," Megumi said, softly, as he entered the room.

Tsumiki was sitting up in bed, reading a book. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Hey, Megumi," she said, her voice warm.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"I'm good," she replied. "Getting stronger every day."

Megumi smiled.

"I'm glad."

There was a moment of silence, then Tsumiki spoke.

"So, is it true?" she asked, her expression hopeful. "Satoru told me you found a way to save Yuji."

Megumi looked away, his cheeks flushed.

"Yeah," he said, clearing his throat. "I mean, we hope so."

"That's great, Megumi," Tsumiki said, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "I know how hard it's been for you, with Yuji gone. I'm glad you found a way to get him back."

Megumi didn't smile.

"It's not that easy," he said, his voice low. "There's a lot at stake."

Tsumiki squeezed his hand again.

"I know. But I believe in you, Megumi. And I believe in Satoru. And Okkotsu-kun. You'll figure it out."

"Thanks, Tsumiki," Megumi said, trying not to think about the guilt that came with the fact that, once again, his sister had faith in him that he didn't deserve.

Tsumiki leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered, her voice filled with conviction.

Megumi returned the hug, burying his face in her shoulder.

He didn't deserve this - didn't deserve her kindness, her faith, her unconditional love. But he was grateful for it, all the same.

He could feel the tears stinging at the corners of his eyes, and he fought them back. Now wasn't the time to cry. He had to be strong, for Yuji's sake.

"Hey, Tsumiki?" Megumi asked, after a few moments.

"Yeah?" she replied, her voice soft.

"Have I...ever thanked you?"

"Thanked me?" Tsumiki repeated, sounding confused.

"For everything. For taking care of me, even though you were a kid yourself. For always being there for me, no matter what. For loving me, even when I was a little shit," Megumi explained.

Tsumiki laughed, the sound soft and musical.

"Well, you were a little shit sometimes," she teased. "But yes, I think you have thanked me. Not necessarily with words, but with your actions. You don't have to say thank you. I know you're grateful, and I'm grateful too."

"Oh, okay," Megumi said, embarrassed.

"I know I said it before, but I'm really proud of how you've changed and became more open," Tsumiki continued. "And I'm really glad that you found someone like Yuji. He's a good guy, and he loves you a lot. I can tell."

Megumi didn't notice when he had started crying, but the tears were flowing freely now.

"I love him, too," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I love him so fucking much."

Tsumiki pulled him close, holding him tight as he sobbed.

"He must be suffering so much right now," Megumi cried, the words pouring out of him. "He doesn't deserve this, any of it. I'm so tired, Tsumiki. I'm so fucking tired of seeing the people I love suffer."

"I know," she said, gently stroking his hair. "But you're going to bring him home, Megumi. I know you will."

"What if we can't?" Megumi asked, the thought that had been weighing on him ever since the plan had been hatched. "What if something goes wrong, and Yuji dies? What will I do then?"

"Don't think like that," Tsumiki admonished, her voice gentle. "You can't think like that. You have to believe that it will work. You know, when Yuji made the plan to wake me up from the coma and bring me back to you, he did it despite the odds. He had no idea if it would work, or if it would fail and I would die. But he did it anyway, because he loved you, and he wanted to make you happy."

Megumi let out a shuddering breath.

"That sounds like him," he said, sniffling.

"Yeah," Tsumiki agreed. "So, you have to do the same. You have to have faith in yourself, and in the people around you. You can't give up. Not when you're so close."

"I'll try," Megumi said, his voice muffled against her shoulder.

"Good," she said, her voice firm.

They stayed like that for a while, Megumi's tears soaking into her shirt, and Tsumiki stroking his hair and murmuring soft words of comfort.

Finally, Megumi pulled away, wiping his eyes.

"Thanks, Tsumiki," he said, smiling slightly. "I needed that."

"You're welcome," she replied, returning the smile.

They talked for a while longer, and Megumi could feel himself relaxing. Tsumiki had a way of putting him at ease, of making him feel safe and secure. It was something he had always appreciated about her, and something he had sorely missed during the months that she had been in a coma.

But then, his phone buzzed, and he glanced down at the screen, a wave of nervousness washing over him.

"It's Gojo. He says Hana's awake," he announced.

"Okay," Tsumiki said, her expression serious. "Then go. Go get your boyfriend back."

Megumi nodded, standing up from the bed.

"I will," he promised.

-

When Megumi returned to the infirmary, Hana was sitting up in the bed, sipping a glass of water. Her eyes were wide, and she seemed a bit dazed, but otherwise, she seemed to be okay.

"Hey," Megumi greeted, his tone cautious.

"Hey," Hana replied, giving him a small smile.

"How are you feeling?"

"Oh. I'm fine. A bit weird, to hear someone else's voice inside my head, but other than that, I'm okay," Hana explained, her expression thoughtful.

"Is the Angel talking to you?" Megumi asked, curious.

"Yeah," Hana confirmed. "We've been having a chat. Apparently, she's got a lot of opinions about this world. And the Jujutsu world, especially."

"What kind of opinions?"

"Oh, wouldn't you like to know?" a voice replied, and Megumi jumped.

A mouth formed on Hana's cheek, and the Angel's voice came from it.

"Hey!" Hana protested.

"What?" the Angel replied, sounding amused. "I can't answer a few questions?"

"Well, you can," Hana conceded. "Just...warn me first, okay?"

"Fair enough," the Angel agreed.

Megumi couldn't help but find the exchange strange. Here was a girl, sharing her body with an ancient, powerful being. And yet, they seemed to get along fairly well, despite their differences.

"So, what did you want to ask me?" the Angel inquired, turning her attention back to Megumi.

"Will you help us? Kill Sukuna?" Megumi asked, getting straight to the point.

"Yes, I will," the Angel confirmed. "Killing The Fallen is my priority."

"Great," Megumi said, relief evident in his voice. "But, uh, can you do it without killing Yuji?"

There was a moment of silence.

"Well, I can try," the Angel replied, sounding a bit dubious. "But I can't guarantee anything."

Megumi felt his stomach drop.

"What does that mean?" he demanded, his tone sharp.

"It means, I'm not sure if I can separate Sukuna from Itadori Yuji without killing him. My priority is killing Sukuna. Everything else is secondary."

Megumi felt a surge of anger.

"That's not acceptable. Yuji's life is not secondary. You can't kill him," he insisted.

The Angel sighed.

"Look, I understand that Itadori Yuji is important to you. But my priority is killing The Fallen. There is a chance that Itadori Yuji can survive the separation, but there's also a chance that he can't. I can't guarantee his safety. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is."

"That's not good enough," Megumi shot back.

"I'm not asking for your permission," the Angel retorted, her tone cold. "I'm simply informing you of the situation."

Megumi felt frustrated. But there was nothing he could do. The Angel had already agreed to help them. They were out of options.

"Fine," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's just do this."

-

When Gojo returned, Yuji was with him.

Megumi's heart leapt in his chest at the sight of his boyfriend. Yuji looked pale, his cheeks sunken and his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. He had a haunted look on his face, and his body language was tense, almost defensive.

As soon as Yuji noticed him, his eyes widened in horror, and he shook his head violently.

"No, Megumi, what are you doing here? You can't be here!" Yuji cried, his voice laced with panic.

Megumi frowned.

"I can, and I am. I'm not leaving," he said, his voice firm.

Yuji let out a strangled sob.

"You can't, Megumi. If you're here, then that means- Oh, god, no. Please, no," he begged.

Gojo stepped forward, placing a hand on Yuji's shoulder.

"Yuji-kun. I am here. Sukuna won't take over your body while I'm standing right next to you. You're safe," he said, his voice soothing.

"I don't want him anywhere near Megumi!" Yuji exclaimed, his voice trembling. "I don't even know why you brought me back here. What are you trying to do? You can't-"

"You'll find out soon enough," Gojo replied, cutting off Yuji's panicked rambling. "But for now, please, just talk to Megumi. I will be right here, and I can take a 15-finger Sukuna in my sleep. Just think about it. If he wanted to get Megumi, he would need to activate the binding vow, take control of your body, and feed him your finger. Do you think he could do that while I'm standing right here?"

Yuji swallowed, his eyes flicking between Gojo and Megumi.

"I...I guess not," he mumbled.

"Good. Now, sit down and talk to Megumi. He's worried about you," Gojo instructed.

Megumi felt a lump in his throat. He was happy to see Yuji, but he had a feeling that the reason Gojo insisted on the two of them having a conversation before revealing the plan and attempting to use Jacob's Ladder on Yuji was because there was a chance it wouldn't work, and that Yuji might not survive the separation from Sukuna.

Gojo was just giving them one last moment together, in case the worst happened.

Yuji took a deep breath, then sat down on the couch. Megumi sat down beside him, reaching out to take his hand. Yuji flinched, and Megumi could see the guilt and fear in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Yuji whispered. "I'm so sorry, Megumi."

"Shhh," Megumi murmured, squeezing his hand. "You don't have to apologize. None of this is your fault."

"Yes, it is," Yuji insisted. "It's my fault. I wasn't strong enough to keep Kenjaku from feeding me those fingers. And now, I'm putting you in danger. You shouldn't be here, Megumi. I can't-"

Megumi cut him off with a kiss. Yuji let out a startled noise, his eyes wide. Then, slowly, he relaxed, kissing Megumi back.

They kissed for a long moment, their bodies pressed together, their hands clasped tightly. It was a kiss filled with love, and hope, and a desperate desire to never be parted again.

He felt Yuji tremble against him, and he could taste the salt of Yuji's tears. Megumi held him tighter, wishing he could take away his pain.

Finally, they broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other.

"I love you," Megumi whispered.

"I love you, too," Yuji replied, his voice hoarse.

Megumi felt his own tears welling up. He blinked them back, determined not to cry. He had to be strong, for Yuji.

"I'm sorry for ignoring your texts and calls," Yuji said, his voice shaky. "I just- I couldn't bear to talk to you, knowing that it could be the last time. I didn't want to leave you, Megumi. Not like that."

Megumi felt his heart breaking.

"It's okay," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I understand."

"I'm so sorry," Yuji repeated.

"I know," Megumi replied, pressing another kiss to his lips.

They sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, neither of them wanting to let go.

Megumi was aware of Gojo's presence, but he tried to ignore it. This was their moment. Their last moment, perhaps.

But he couldn't dwell on that. He had to believe that everything would be alright, that they would get through this, and be together again.

"I just want you to know," Megumi said, his voice soft. "No matter what happens, I'll never regret loving you. And I'll never regret meeting you."

Yuji sniffled, nodding.

"Me too," he replied.

Megumi smiled. He reached up, wiping away the tears that were rolling down Yuji's cheeks.

"It's going to be okay," he whispered. "I promise."

-

Yuji had no idea what Gojo's plan was, and he knew that they won't risk telling him until the very last second. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. On one hand, it was understandable, considering the fact that Sukuna was listening to his every thought and word. On the other hand, not knowing made him anxious, and he had no idea how to prepare himself for whatever it was.

But meeting Megumi, as terrifying as it was, also lifted some of the weight off his shoulders. He was glad he didn't leave things unsaid between them, and he was glad that Megumi was here with him, even if he still worried about the consequences.

Gojo and Megumi shared a look. Then, Gojo cleared his throat.

"Okay, we should get started," Gojo announced.

Yuji tensed.

"Get started with what?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Sukuna in his head let out a manic laugh.

"Yes, I'm curious about that, too," Sukuna's voice boomed, his tone mocking.

Yuji flinched, the sound echoing painfully inside his skull.

Of course, no one else heard it.

"It's nothing bad, don't worry," Gojo said, smiling. "But we do need to go outside to the edge of the school grounds for it. That okay?"

Yuji blinked.

"I guess so," he said, unsure.

Sukuna laughed again.

"This should be interesting," he crowed.

"All right," Gojo said, clapping his hands together. "Let's go."

Yuji glanced at Megumi. He could see the nervousness in his eyes, but also the determination. He gave Yuji a small smile, and Yuji tried to return it, but he was certain his own was more like a grimace.

He stood up from the couch, following Megumi and Gojo outside.

Once they were out, the cool air hitting his skin, Yuji could feel the anxiety growing in his chest.

What the hell was going on?

Gojo and Megumi exchanged a few hushed words, too low for Yuji to make out. Yuuji could tell that despite Sukuna's earlier mockery, he was now listening intently.

"Come on, let's go," Gojo said, leading the way.

"Where are we going?" Yuji asked, his voice wavering.

"Just a bit further," Gojo replied, his tone cheerful.

They walked along the edge of the school grounds, passing by the buildings and trees. It was quiet, and Yuji could feel the tension in the air.

Sukuna was silent.

They finally came to stop in a clearing, surrounded by trees. The sky was beginning to darken, the sun setting. The air was cool, and there was a slight breeze.

"Here we are," Gojo said, gesturing around. "I will need to cover your eyes for this. Is that okay?"

Yuji felt a shiver run down his spine. He still had no idea what kind of plan they had, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

"It's fine," he said, his voice strained.

Gojo reached into his pocket, pulling out a blindfold. He tied it around Yuji's eyes, blocking out the light. Yuji could hear Megumi and Gojo speaking, but he couldn't make out the words.

He could also feel the cursed energy of others nearby, and he wondered who else was here.

"Are you ready, Yuji-kun?" Gojo asked, his voice quiet.

Yuji swallowed.

"Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Okay," Gojo said. "You're doing great. Just remember, I'll be right here, and Megumi will be nearby."

Yuji nodded. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

"All right," Gojo said.

He could hear Gojo take a step back. Then, the sound of footsteps approached him, and a familiar hand touched his arm.

"It's me, Yuji," Megumi whispered, his voice close. "I'm going to kiss you, okay?"

Yuji's heart skipped a beat.

"Okay," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

And then, he felt Megumi's lips on his. It was a quick, chaste kiss, but Yuji could feel the love and reassurance in it.

"It's going to be fine, Yuji," Megumi murmured, his voice gentle.

Then, Megumi's hand left his arm, and he took a step back.

Yuji was filled with panic. He wanted to reach out, grab Megumi and not let go. But he forced himself to stay still, clenching his fists at his sides.

The silence stretched on, and Yuji could feel the tension growing in his body.

"Hana-chan, you ready?" Gojo's voice called out.

Hana?

Yuji felt his blood run cold.

There was only one Hana that Gojo could be talking to. But that couldn't be, because the Culling Games never happened, and Angel was never incarnated and-

"As ready as I'll ever be," a female voice replied.

And Yuji knew.

And with that, for a fleeting second, he felt Sukuna's panic.

Yuji could almost feel the shock reverberating through his mind, the ancient sorcerer rendered speechless.

"Jacob's Ladder!" the voice cried.

And then, Yuji felt a sharp pain. It was as if something was ripping him in two, and he could feel himself being pulled apart.

He could feel his consciousness slipping, the pain overwhelming. There was so much brightness, and every cell in his body was screaming.

Yuji let out a choked cry, collapsing to his knees. He could hear voices, but they were distant, muffled. He couldn't focus, the burning agony consuming his senses.

He couldn't tell where he ended and Sukuna began.

There was so much light, and pain, and he was falling, falling...

Then he heard Megumi scream.

"STOP IT! Stop, please you're killing him! Stop it!"

There was a loud crack, like a tree branch breaking, and he felt someone run towards him.

"Megumi, no!" Gojo yelled.

Sukuna growled, the sound echoing through Yuji's head.

"I don't fucking think so," he spat.

Yuji's eyes widened in terror.

"Megumi, no! Get away!" he managed to shout.

Sukuna cackled, a sick, twisted sound.

"Well, this just got a whole lot more interesting," he purred. "Enchain."

And then, all the air left Yuji's lungs.