life's hard af lately and i really don't have the energy for anything. i'm sorry for the slow updates, i've barely been able to focus on making it through the days ya know.

anyway, enough sad shit. hope you guys like the chap.

trigger warning for violence

••••

*Geto POV*

"What the fuck..." Satoru mumbled to himself.

I was zoned out, staring at my feet and barely even noticed him. He was always doing whatever he could to get people's attention so I wasn't that concerned about it anyway.

"Y/n?" my head shot up at the sound of Nanami's voice.

It can't be.

But there she was, dressed fully in her all black outfit and sword, her hair pulled back as it always was when she was working.

She stood tall, her chin raised as she walked with control and purpose, leading the two others. Her eyes didn't break away from us at all.

I blinked the tears out of my eyes, thinking maybe my broken heart was just causing me to see shit. Countless thoughts rushed through my head as to how this would be possible...

But it wasn't a ghost or a hallucination. It was her. Even from this distance, her presence demanded respect.

She's really alive.

"Y/n!" Nanami called out again as he ran over to her, not caring in the slightest that we were here to negotiate and intimidate.

My eyes briefly glanced over at Satoru who was cracking his neck, a nervous tick that I hadn't seen him do in years.

He probably had no idea where to go from here. Honestly, neither did I. This changed everything.

Worst of all, my world was shattering all over again because now she knew I just left her behind. I fucking left her behind to die.

And how did she survive? Has anyone ever survived a blow from Satoru before?

My stomach was in knots as I thought about it. How she probably woke up scared and alone. How someone had to tell her I never came back and never even took a moment to say goodbye.

I thought I was going to be sick, my knees only moments away from giving out. She probably hates me... How could she not?

My eyes blurred with tears again as she freely embraced Nanami, hugging him back tightly. I had never seen Nanami so flustered and so open with his emotions.

The amount of relief he must be feeling as she wrapped her arms around him, I was envious of that moment. I wanted that.

"Stick to the plan," Satoru's voice came out low and uneasy.

I shook my head, "You must know this changes everything."

He whipped his head towards me, "We still killed a group of them. I still almost killed her. She's not here to play nicely Suguru."

"It doesn't matter," the words exposing just how broken I felt.

"If we don't handle this, more people will die. Is that what you want?"

My jaw tightened as I looked away. He wasn't wrong. The higher ups had it in their minds that we were going to do whatever it takes. If this little meet up goes poorly, who knows what they'll demand next.

And even if me and Satoru refused to listen, they'd still have plenty of people to do their dirty work.

Whatever happens, I need to make sure the people Y/n loves and cares about stay safe. It's the least I can do.

"We were told you were killed," Naoya was the first to speak up as they approached.

"Die before I get the chance to kill you?" she smirked at him. "I would never."

My eyes widened as she spoke. I had never heard her talk of killing anyone before. At least not like that.

She did what she needed to survive, but the way she spoke and stared at him, it was cold and threatening.

Was she really out for blood and revenge? That didn't seem like her. Then again, after what she went through, who knows how much has changed.

"Let's hear what you came for," Naobito quickly interjected. "You're out of time."

"I came to end this shit."

"So you're ready to hand over the cursed objects?" Satoru asked her.

She shook her head, "Absolutely not."

"That is the only deal we're prepared to make. The cursed objects in exchange for your freedom."

"Hmm," she raised a brow at us. "How about a little counteroffer?"

"Always playing your games," Satoru smirked.

Meanwhile, I couldn't even bring myself to speak. This was all too much to handle. And she had barely even acknowledged my existence.

"Not anymore," she replied coldly. "You guys leave us alone. Quit pursuing us. Quit pursing the cursed objects. Or else we'll be back for the war you keep threatening."

A war? They're willing to fight us? She's willing to die for this?

"You have 24 hours to decide."

Satoru scoffed, "You can't be serious."

"You have 24 hours until I come back here and kill you all myself."

Satoru looked pissed now. He didn't take getting threatened lightly. His ego was too much for that. He was the strongest, and he was always eager to remind people of that.

I really do think he likes her, but his switch flipped so quickly. Sometimes I don't think he has any control over it.

"Are you saying you think you can kill me?" he snarled as he walked closer to her, already ripping off his blindfold. "I guess I need to remind you of who I am."

She stared into his eyes, unfazed and unafraid. I always knew she was brave and confident, but this was something entirely different. It made me shiver.

"You only knew me when I had something left to lose," she was the one that stepped closer to him this time. "And if you wanted to kill me, you missed your one and only chance."

Satoru's entire body tensed up, rage oozing off of him. I don't know that anyone has ever stood up to him like that before.

She smirked, a soft scoff leaving her lips, "I'll see you soon Gojo. Can't wait to hear your answer."

I watched dumbfounded as Y/n began to walk away. Where the hell did all of this come from? Was she being serious?

What about us? Wasn't she interested in salvaging anything about our relationship? We were only moments away from taking off together before everything happened.

I chased after her as she left, reaching out for her wrist. I just needed to talk to her. I needed to understand what was going on. I needed to get her back. The real her. Not whoever this was.

Except right when I grabbed her, she shot her ice directly through my hand.

I let out a loud yell as she whipped around, snarling at me, "Have you lost your fucking mind? Don't you dare touch me."

"Y/n, please..."

Her eyes pierced through me sharper than her technique, "Convince your friends to do the right thing, or I'll be the one leaving you for dead."

"I'm so sorry," my voice came out weak and pathetic, my tears refusing to stay.

She glanced down at my hand that bled uncontrollably with the dagger still stuck in it, "That'll need stitches."

I didn't care. It didn't matter what she did.

"I'm not letting you run from me again," I cried out as I ran after her, this time getting in front to block her way out.

"You can stab me as many times as you want. I'm not going anywhere," I stared into those beautiful eyes of hers. They didn't show a flicker of compassion or care, but I couldn't hold it against her. I knew I deserved this.

After a moment, she defeatedly grabbed my arm, pulling my hand towards her before yanking out the ice.

She didn't need to say anything. I knew what this meant, her taking care of me. I still have a chance...

I winced at the pain, my jaw clenching as I carefully watched her tear off a chunk of fabric and tie it around my wound.

She tore off part of her top, and my eyes immediately locked onto the scar now exposed on her stomach. It's where Satoru had hit her. Aiko was so much shorter than Y/n, and since he was aiming for her heart, it hit Y/n's stomach.

I wanted to grab her and hold her in my arms as I continued to stare. The pain and defeat she must have felt when she woke up.... It was the worst scar I had ever seen. How the fuck did she survive that?

"I love you," she finally looked up to meet my eyes as she tightened the cloth. "But we're not on the same side. I meant every word I just spoke."

My voice was gentle and low, "I meant every word too... I'll always be on your side."

Her eyes softened as I spoke, glistening as she gazed into me. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make me think maybe we could have a future after all.

"You're a weak and useless whore," Naoya snarled. "We'll never take your threats seriously."

With his words, whatever gentleness that shined through disappeared without a trace.

"Y/n!" I screamed her name, but it was too late.

She shot her frozen cursed energy directly through his neck after cancelling his technique. Even Satoru's mouth dropped as Naoya bled out and crashed to the ground, the life leaving him as his eyes rolled back.

She simply stared at the aftermath of her attack, not a bit of remorse on her face.

"24 hours," she called out. "I am not bluffing."

I wasn't crying over losing Naoya, my tears were falling for just how lost Y/n was. We did this to her.

That gentle, caring woman was gone, and I had no one to blame but myself. The lies, loss, and deceit would throw anyone over the edge.

Still, I loved her just the same. I didn't need to save her from this, I only wanted to stand by her side through it all.

"Goodbye Suguru."

All of me broke as she pushed around me and continued forward, her protectors following her without hesitation.

Satoru quickly grabbed onto my shoulder, shaking his head as I turned to meet his eyes, "We have business to take care of. Now."

Nanami cleared his throat, "I'm sure this is of no surprise, but I will not be helping with this."

"Me either," I sighed.

Satoru completely lost his cool, "Are you fucking kidding me!? She just killed Naoya in cold blood! She is not with you anymore!"

Nanami shook his head, "She won't hurt the students, so it's not of my concern."

"We don't know that!!" he yelled again.

"Leave them Gojo. We need to put our own precautions in place. We don't know what they have planned, and we need to be prepared," Yaga had decided to be the voice of reason.

He continued, "When they come back tomorrow, we'll try one last time to negotiate. If not, we'll have the Kyoto staff and any professional sorcerers with us to move forward with attacks."

"This is really what you're choosing? Her?" Satoru asked as he refocused his attention on me.

I nodded, "Its something I should've done long ago. I'll be here to try again tomorrow with the compromises and negotiations. But I won't fight."

I might be too late, but I'm never turning my back on her again.

••••

**Y/N POV**

The moment we were far enough away, I broke down into sobs. I rushed away from Aiko and Kai, hiding myself behind a tree as I threw up.

I killed him. I fucking killed that asshole.

Not that he didn't deserve it, but nothing could have been further out of character for me. Even if it was necessary and justified, it would never be easy for me.

"It's nothing compared to what they've done to us," Kai mumbled as I joined them again, my skin pale and sweaty.

Aiko nodded in agreement, "And at least now they know to take you seriously."

I ignored them and pushed my legs forward, focusing on the next steps of our plan. I know for a fact that we bought ourselves a full 24 hours, and I couldn't let that go to waste.

"Y/n, are you ok?" Aiko asked me.

I had no idea how to answer that. Of course I wasn't. Between my murder and seeing Suguru the love of my life and threatening Satoru who was on an entirely different level... I was rattled to my very core.

Suguru. The look of absolute horror and pity and desperation on his face as I killed that sorcerer. The one I hated so thoroughly but couldn't even remember his fucking name.

Would he still be on my side now? Would he still love me? Would he ever look at me the same way?

I quickly shook all thoughts of him. That didn't matter now. I couldn't let it matter to me. I had bigger things to worry about.

"I'm fine," I answered Aiko as I held my head a little higher. "Let's begin the next phase."