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The flight back into Japan had been excruciatingly slow. More so than when he first left for his training (against his will he might add). During the last two days Yuuta has been urging the planes to somehow fly faster. He hadn't wasted a second when he received the message from Gojo, “Time to come home”. Yuuta knows that Gojo wouldn’t tell him to return early unless something bad had happened.
Yuuta’s leg hadn’t stopped bouncing with pent up anxiety since he stepped into the awaiting car at the airport. The vehicle currently ferrying him as close to Shibuya as it could. While breaking what must have been dozens of traffic laws. He would have to walk the rest of the way that the car couldn’t. He almost wishes he had gone on foot from the airport. To give him something to do other than sit and wait. But he knows this is the fastest way.
After what felt like hours, and very well could have been, the car stops and the driver cuts the engine.
“I’m sorry, this is as far as I can take you,” Yuuta doesn't wait for the driver to finish his sentence, just nods his head and grabs his katana to slide out of the seat. The only bag of belongings he had decided to pack remains in the seat, he hopes the driver will deliver it to Jujutsu High. But there are far more important matters he needs to attend. During the trip the driver had been able to brief Yuuta on what was currently known.
Nanami, dead. Gojo, sealed. Yuuji, on the run. Maki and Nobara, severely injured. Toge, still missing. Toge missing. Toge. Toge. Toge. The name rings in Yuuta’s head. When he first heard those words his chest had tightened and breathing became much more difficult. He thought he would have a panic attack right there. The only reason he managed not to was his determination to find Toge. Alive. He wouldn’t allow himself to think anything else.
The first step through the veil that engulfed Shibuya brought with it a cacophony of death and dying. The sound of screams and cries all around. And the smell of blood strong enough to force Yuuta to bring his sleeve to his nose to adjust. Red was everywhere. Soaked into the very stones. He hoped other areas were more forgiving.
He knows where to start. Find survivors. Where there are survivors, there had to be a sorcerer protecting them from the devastating domain expansion. He hoped Toge was closest to his search. The higher ups never gave him specific orders to save Toge. Had only been concerned with Yuuji’s death. Had forced the binding vow out of Yuuta while on a layover at the airport. The fury he had felt when he heard those words was indescribable. The great leaders didn't care about anyone's survival, only keeping their power secure. Yuuta couldn’t give a rat’s ass about their power, yet the only way they would allow him to help and save Toge would be under the guise of doing their bidding. Yuuta just has to play the game for now.
The first signs of human presence comes less than a mile into Shibuya. There are dozens of bodies scattered. None with signs of life. Most in more than one piece. He doesn’t see any sorcerers, this group was unprotected. He doesn’t linger.
Hours, so many, too many hours later. Yuuta hears small sobs. He sees nothing and looks around frantically. There are no signs of movement. He feels Rika materialize behind him. And it's her who is able to find the first human that he has seen alive since entering the veil. The child is small, and huddled into the corner of an alley. Shaking in fear, trying to cover her sobs and stay quiet. Yuuta crouches down in front of her gluing a smile to his face to try to remedy her fear. It doesn't work.
She screams when Yuuta gets close. He tries to raise his hands in placation but that doesn't seem to help. He sees her eyes dart behind him and then back, and behind again. He knows she must see Rika. Must see one of the monsters that has caused chaos in the city. He wills Rika away. The screams stop and the child tries to stop hyperventilating. She succeeds in gaining a moment of calm, long enough to raise a shaking finger to point farther into the shadowed alley. Yuuta is confused, he hadn’t heard anyone else. Surely if there was another person they would have shown themselves when the child screamed.
Yuuta stands and cautiously takes a step into the shadows keeping a hand on his katana. He sees something rustle from behind a large standing AC unit. He also hears a groan of pain. As he rounds the side of the AC and is able to see what is there, Yuuta is scrambling frantically to the ground.
“TOGE!” His voice is shaking. The cursed speech user is leaning against the AC unit haphazardly. Unable to keep himself upright. And he’s covered in blood.
“Toge where are you hurt?” He's screaming at the smaller boy in his own fear. There's only another groan from Toge. “Can you hear me? Are you with me?” Words are tumbling from Yuuta in an effort to get any kind of response. But there won't be one. Toge is by all accounts out of it. With the amount of blood pooled around him it’s amazing he is still breathing.
Yuuta’s right hand is on Toge’s cheek trying to tap him into consciousness. And his other hand searches. Searches for what is bleeding, what is injured. And he sees it, Toge is slouched towards his left. Shadowing the problem. Yuuta sees that the majority of Toge’s arm is gone. The wound is a clean cut, it must have happened during Sukuna’s domain expansion.
Yuuta wraps his hand in reverse curse technique and grabs the remainder of Toge’s arm to stop the heavy bleeding. Toge jolts, eyes flying open and muffling a sob. His eyes are hazy for a minute until they clear and Toge finally sees Yuuta. Through the pain Toge cracks a small smile and is able to croak a small, “Yuuta”. Yuuta tries his best to smile back but it proves to be difficult when trying to keep his best friend, love of his life, from bleeding out in an alleyway.
Yuuta sees Toge start to open his mouth, presumably to tell him something else, but Yuuta just shushes him. Focus completely on stopping the blood. Yuuta finally feels the top layer of skin pull over the wound, to effectively keep Toge's blood inside where it belongs. He’s aware this is nowhere near enough healing. But Yuuta’s ability to heal other people with his reverse curse technique isn’t quite on the same level as what he can do to heal himself. Definitely will have to get Toge back to school to have proper care done for his arm. And for the blood loss. No way Yuuta could do a transfusion in the field.
Toge is again barely conscious, so Yuuta gives a light tap to his cheek right on top of his seal. Toge gives a
slow blink and is able to lock his eyes to Yuuta’s. And Yuuta doesn’t make him wait. He tells the injured sorcerer that he’s going to pick him up, it’s gonna hurt like hell, and they’re gonna get the fuck out of Shibuya. And he does. He picks the smaller up and adjusts him on his back. The sounds Toge makes as he does makes Yuuta bite his lip to stop himself from apologizing profusely. When Toge is settled Yuuta stands, turning back towards the street. He looks for the small figure that helped him find his boyfriend. The girl is gone. No sign anywhere. Hadn’t even heard her leave. He spends a couple of minutes trying to find her. But it's like she just disappeared. Rika can’t sense anything either.
So Yuuta trudges the way he came. Out. Towards safety. Commands Rika to remain and protect them, to watch their backs. And Yuuta focuses on Toge. Focuses on his breathing. Trying to make sure it doesn’t get any shallower. And also focuses on trying to keep him conscious. Which admittedly was the hardest thing to do when what he really wanted was to let Toge rest and relax and not be in pain. He’d rather Toge be alive though.
“You know this is one hell of a welcome back party.” He feels the smallest chuckle from behind. Yuuta tries to keep talking, to keep it light. Funny. But it's hard to do when only one of the parties is fully coherent and not biting their tongue to stop from screaming. Yuuta can hear the whimpers as each step jostles Toge on his back. Knows that Toge would rather bite his tongue off than make Yuuta think he’s hurting him.
He sees the veil reappearing in the distance and he picks up speed. Wanting out of this place of blood and death. Wants Toge out of this place of blood and death. Yuuta will be plunging himself right back in to fulfill his binding vow. But that will have to wait.
Finally the two break through to blue skies and fresh air. Yuuta is beyond relieved. He only breathes a sigh of relief when he's able to call for a driver to return and pick them up. Thankfully not far from where they are now.
Yuuta maneuvers Toge down to lean against a cement road barrier that was haphazardly placed to keep people from entering the barrier. Yuuta crouches and puts himself on Toge’s right side. Letting the cursed speech user lean on him, head resting on Yuuta’s shoulder. He brushes a stray strand of hair off of Toge’s face, tucking it behind his ear. And Yuuta didn't expect him to be lucid. Especially not enough to whisper “Love you…. Yuuuuutaaaa”, quietly. So only Yuuta is in danger of his cursed technique. And only Yuuta is able to hear. Yuuta smiles and presses a soft kiss to his hair as they wait.