七

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   TEN YEARS OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

That had been her punishment for entering the human world without permission. It had tested her very own will to live, not that her existence warranted her a choice in the matter. It jaded her; had she not had Izanami to keep her company, she certainly would have gone insane. She thought that her status as the carrier of Izanami would exclude her from such punishment, but she could not have been more wrong. If anything, her status only acted as an aggravating circumstance for her crime. Nevertheless, even after ten years in a cell, she still hadn't learnt her lesson.

This time, it was different. Yachiru had officially defected from Yomi. The moment her ten year ban was up, she had once again attempted to travel to the world of the living but this time, she was caught. She smirked to herself as she gazed down at unknown city she had arrived in, reminiscing about how it all went down.

The higher ups initially wanted to strip Yachiru of her Shinigami powers completely when she was caught - but found the task was impossible since the nature of her sword would not allow for anyone else to handle it. She had warned them beforehand, she tried desperately to tell them, Izanami would not allow for anyone else to handle her. The Shinigami designated to remove Izanami from her side had his left hand set ablaze upon contact with the sheath, completely cremating the limb.

With no alternative option left, and no punishment seeming to work, the higher ups resolved to exile Yachiru from Yomi completely. The large Kanji engraved in the skin of her once flawless back that read 'BANISHED' ached whenever she thought about it. On the positive, she thought it was worth it. Yachiru and Izanami were now free to do what they had always desired - to live amongst humans. Indeed, the woman's fascination with the species had almost been the death of her.

Dropping down into the busy streets, she walked with a smile on her face. It was quite a lonely existence; walking amongst those who cannot see or feel you, it was easy to understand how this could be considered a punishment. Regardless, the grin remained on her face. She had spent the previous ten years without any outside contact, a little while longer wouldn't do her much harm. There were clearly some people amongst the crowds with a knack of sorts for being able to see spirits, the odd few looks she received being shot directly at her being proof of this. She supposed her attire had stayed the same as always, and Satoru did always point out how weird and ancient her clothes were, alongside the fact that she carried a literal sword in the twenty-first century.

Ah, yes, Satoru.

How could she forget, even if it was just for a moment?

The smile that played on her face softened slightly, her eyes casting to the floor for a moment as his familiar face surfaced in her memory. It wasn't that she had forgotten about him - not for a minute. It was sombre, in a way. She had finally made her way into the human world without having to face repercussions, yet the place she had landed in looked and even felt much too different to the previous locations she had been to. There were strings of cursed energy everywhere in Tokyo, but there seemed to be much fewer here, and they felt less hostile. Perhaps Tokyo was just more intense compared to other cities.

It was at that moment that she felt a chill in the air, the thin hairs on her the back of neck standing to attention. She could sense a huge amount of threatening cursed energy to the east of where she was walking. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before, and she almost faltered for a moment; it was demonic.

She shook her head from side to side, knocking herself out of her own thoughts. The weight of the cursed energy began to feel lighter as she reassured herself, heading towards the source. A sense of familiarity lingered in the air, getting stronger as the demonic energy dwindled. Soon enough, she found herself perched on the roof of a nearby building, watching what seemed like an altercation between two teenage boys - both of which had incredibly high reserves of cursed energy. As Yachiru began to analyse the situation, she received a light kick to the side, catching herself off balance.

She stumbled slightly but ultimately managed to stay on her feet, "HUUUUUH?! WHY ARE YOU HERE?" She yelled, pointing a finger in the perpetrators direction.

Of course, she knew exactly who it was the moment she had laid eyes on him - the white hair and handsome lower features being the obvious signs. How was it that fate seemed to work this way? Her surprise was obvious, but he didn't seem too shocked as he stood there, with that same old smile on his face.

"Yo! Nice to see you again."

How was it that he managed to stay so cool? Especially after their emotional departure ten years prior.

"You didn't need to kick me, that's not any way to treat an old friend." She took the hand that had been extended to her to hoist herself up from her staggered squatting position. "Still pretending to be blind? You're such an attention seeker." She then mocked, covering her smirk with her hand.

"And you've grown into your uniform, you've finally managed to make it actually look alright!" He teased back, but before she could fully register what he had said, he spoke again. "Give me a minute and then we can catch up." He was heading down to the scene that Yachiru had just been gazing down on, which is when she noticed the familiarity of the black haired male - he was wearing the same outfit Satoru wore in school. She too jumped down, finding a better vantage point but still keeping a little distance.

She couldn't hear what they were saying, but the return of the malicious cursed energy from earlier indicated that something was about to happen. Yachiru watched as the strawberry-blonde teenaged boy attempted to claw at Satoru, only to find Satoru leisurely sat atop his back milliseconds later.

She had only just been able to keep up with his movements - something she had never found herself struggling with no matter how fast the subject had claimed to be. It was a simple move - Satoru had pulled up the offending arm and spun him round, ducked under and then assumed his seat. What was most impressive, was the speed of it, and how effortless it really was to him.

The two went on, back and forth for about ten seconds. Their hand-to-hand encounters were most impressive; both proving their strength in terms of close quarters fighting. Yachiru wondered for a moment - if either would be able to beat her. She had always felt somewhat invincible in her previous encounters to the human world, but the comfort of having something to potentially return to was now absent. The fight ended as the cursed energy dissipated, the boys previously marked body returning to a normal skin tone. The aggression levels seemed to be under control too, and Yachiru was beginning to wonder what on earth was going on.

'Interesting.' Izanami chuckled, taking Yachiru by surprise.

"You've been quiet recently. I thought you were mad at me." She half pouted, disliking how she had received the silent treatment from her very own sword.

'I just haven't had much to say. I am happy you managed to find him again.'

"Who are you talking to?" The same white haired male asked, once again startling Yachiru.

She waved her katana in his face to answer his question. "Who are those kids?" She then asked, pointing at the raven haired one that trailed behind him and the one he was currently carrying over his shoulder.

"Well this one," He shifted his shoulder upwards to indicate which he was referring to, "This guy just ate one of Ryōmen Sukuna's fingers. Law states we gotta exterminate him as soon as possible, buuuut..." He then used his opposing hand to point to the boy behind him. "Megumi, my cute student, wants me to save him from such an unfair fate; what kind of teacher could refuse?"

He was being theatrical with his movements, but his words held sincerity. Yachiru was stunned for a moment, slightly touched by the noble cause of the teenager that stood sheepishly behind her old friend.

Still, the words that would next come out of her mouth did not do the fairly serious situation any justice. "Megumi? Your parents gave you a girls name?" She laughed.

"Tch." His eyebrows furrowed in annoyance, "It's unisex. Why the hell are you dressed like a Samurai?"

Satoru smirked as he watched the two go back and forth, a hint of deja vu hitting both himself and Yachiru.

"I don't think it is unisex... But props for your incredibly original jab! I'm actually a Shinigami."

Megumi shot his sensei an extremely questioning look, not sure of how to respond to the statement. Of course, like every other Jujutsu Sorcerer, he had never expected Shinigami to look so human. However, and again like Jujutsu Sorcerers, he had also noticed the difference between this strange woman's 'cursed energy' and the typical that he was so used to.

"Sure. I guess anything is possible really." He said, craning his arms around the back of his neck in a stretch. Megumi wasn't a dumb kid after all; he had no reason not to believe her.

"So, where are you headed?" Satoru finally spoke up, directing his question toward Yachiru.

"Heh... Well long story short I've been banished from Yomi!" She said, grinning like a madman. Every time that she remembered she didn't have to go back, it was like reliving the moment all over again.

Satoru whistled, "Isn't that kinda bad? How are you gunna survive?" His voice was absent of genuine concern, but perhaps because he knew she would be okay. He would make sure of it.

"I figured I'll find the prettiest shrine in homage to Izanami and live out my days as a maiden, and I'll live off of the offerings people bring to her!"

For a plan she had just thought up on the spot, it didn't seem half bad. She pondered it with sincerity for a moment, holding her chin in concentration.

"Megumi, start walking to the station and take him with you." Satoru said, tossing the passed-out body to the other boy like a hackey-sack. "You ought to know I'm not gunna let you do that! You're coming with me." He smiled a toothy grin. It was at this moment that she started to realise how much lighter he seemed, less cynical, and more positive than he had been as a teenager. She supposed it wasn't a major development, isn't everyone a little angsty in their teenage years?

"I'm glad you said that because shrines are actually kinda creepy on the inside." She admitted, happy to be back in his company. "Where do we go then?" She asked. He motioned her with his hand to follow him, as the pair began to catch up with Megumi.

"Back to Jujutsu High! Onward, troops!" He yelled with enthusiasm, pushing Yachiru in the direction of the train station.

"Aren't you a little old to still be at school?"

"I'm a teacher now. All of my students call me Great Teacher Gojo, you know, because I'm so great."

"I've never heard anyone call you that." Megumi muttered, wanting to get home as soon as possible. Yachiru giggled at this response, and then once again at Satoru's dramatic reaction.

Upon boarding the train, bystanders glanced questionably at the two males who had carried an unconscious boy with them, and for a moment, Yachiru was glad she was invisible to most. The bullet train didn't take too long, but allowed enough time for Megumi and Yachiru to become fully acquainted.

"Why does he have to be executed?" She asked, alluding to the unconscious boy as she stepped off the train and outstretched her limbs.

"It's just a dumb law of Jujutsu Sorcery. The higher ups like to think they're something they aren't, who are they to take away the vitality of youth from a teen boy?!" He exclaimed.

Oh. So that's how it was. It was somewhat similar to her own situation, she thought. The hierarchy of power exists everywhere, a force that could rarely be usurped, especially in her own circumstances. She glanced up to the white haired man, wondering what his plan was in terms of executing this wish. Would he be able to do it? In her own case, she had not even bothered to try; too defeatist in her approach. Perhaps this was her biggest flaw, she would not bother to try something if she had the slightest inkling that it couldn't work.

"You're right, but isn't this dangerous for you?" She was concerned. Yachiru had full faith in his abilities, but there is always strength in numbers.

'This is going to be a tumultuous ride.' Yachiru ignored Izanami momentarily, deciding it would be better to inquire later.

"Sure it is. But I'm the strongest, you know? I've got a whole lotta influence and nothing to flex it on. Besides, I think with proper training and discipline he will make a mighty fine sorcerer." His voice was serious, seemingly already having a lot of faith in not only himself, but in this teen. "I'm sure you'll come to agree with me over the next couple of weeks. I've got a plan anyway."

That was all she needed to hear, having learned to trust his judgement. "Whatever you say! I'll assist you in this. Banished or not, I'm still a Shinigami and I retain my duty to protect humans, even from this sort of bureaucratic nonsense."

The three now stood just outside of the Jujutsu Tech barrier in Tokyo, the location being very familiar to Yachiru. Megumi looked at the pair, wondering what kind of relationship they had. He had heard the story that Gojo seemed to blabber to anyone he met, about the Shinigami girl that had visited him as a child and as a teenager - a story which most were reluctant to believe. Perhaps this was the reason he was so loose-lipped about it. Megumi deduced that this must be her, the person he had heard his sensei speak so fondly of.

"I'm glad you agree! There is one minor hurdle we may have to leap over though..." He said, bringing his hand to his chin as he began to think.

"Huh? What is it?"

"Convincing Yaga to employ you as a teacher is probably gunna be our biggest problem."

"Not really. They can't stop me from just following you around." She said, repeating those oh so similar words from all those years ago. Except, this time she was not so embarrassed.

"Yeah but, since you're banished, I assume they haven't set up some special Shinigami accommodation for you to stay in."

Yachiru stopped in her tracks and deadpanned, he was right! She hadn't considered any of the practicalities of surviving in the human world, she had always relied on Satoru!

"Oh well. If he says no, he says no!" She resolved, throwing her hands in the air and beginning to skip up the steps. Some things couldn't be helped, she knew this.

"We have to take care of Itadori first though. I wonder which it will be when he wakes up. Megumi, chuck him here. Go see Shoko and then get some rest." He instructed, catching Itadori's body as Megumi hauled it at him.

"Alright. It was nice to meet you, Kurotsuki-san." Another polite one...

"The pleasure is all mine! And Yachiru is fine."

"Okay Kurotsuki-san. Goodnight." Her eyebrows knitted together in a frown as she watched him make his way to his destination.

Satoru leaned his body down to position his mouth next to her ear, speaking in a hushed voice. "Yeah, you won't be able to stop that one from referring to you like that. He's pretty stubborn."

She jumped slightly at the proximity, putting a little distance between the two as he took her to her next location.

"I'm gunna take you to Yaga. I'll explain the situation to him and then leave you with him whilst I take Itadori for interrogation."

"Thank you." She breathed, a smile on her face as her eyes gazed at the floor, not wanting to meet his face.

"For what?"

"It seems that whenever I come here... even though this time, it's somewhere completely foreign...you're always here. Even though the likelihood was so slim... you somehow managed to be here."

"I always knew you would come back." He began, watching as her face slowly lifted to face his own. "You're that kind of person, you know. One in a million, by nature of your being, and in personality. You're feisty, I knew those guys wouldn't be able to hold you down for long."

"Ten years isn't long?" She chuckled.

'I would have waited centuries.' He thought to himself. He was happier about her reappearance than he came across, and hearing about her defection from Yomi had only strengthened his own rebellious resolve against the institution he was trying to rip down and build back up. With her by his side, he felt like he could do anything.