01.

human curse

Gojo Satoru isn't someone who gets easily amused, and why should he? With all he has seen and done, there is barely a thing that is interesting enough to get a reaction out of the strongest jujutsu sorcerer in the world. In his bare hands he wields infinity, with a godly prowess unlike anything the world has ever seen, and that's enough to scare off even the deadliest of curses.

He knew becoming a teacher at Jujutsu High would prove worthy and, surprising as it sounds, amusing. To guide and support his students as their role model, to help them become the strongest sorcerers they can to eliminate any curse that barricades them... surely he didn't make the wrong decision?

Now, looking at the scene in front of him through his blindfold, Gojo is certain he made the right choice. His lips twitch into a smirk, excitement coursing through him as he watches the girl in the shadowed abandoned alley take down a Grade 3 curse with a single strike of her cursed tool.

Gojo is amused.

The girl turns around when she notices his presence and Gojo is glad for the blindfold, lest she sees the widening of his eyes. Gojo is very, very amused. Her half-half appearance makes him more curious than he'd like to admit. Her right side is what would be considered 'normal' by Japanese standards-- straight black hair that reaches her shoulders and her right eye twinkled in chocolate brown.

It's her left side that's intriguing. Snow white hair that is much like his own (even her left brow gives a moon-like colour) and her left eye- the most ominous feature about her- is a gleaming amethyst, threatening to pierce through his soul.

The left side of her face looks angelic and equally demonic. But Gojo knows that's far from the truth.

The rumours are true. What Yaga Masamachi had told him was also true. In his thermography-like vision he sees the cursed energy flowing relentlessly in her body. He sees it jarringly as it screams in accursed purple energy, waiting to be spewed out and released into the world. It is dangerous and not to be messed with, just like what the world told about the Amano clan many centuries ago. Gojo doesn't understand how she is still able to side with good rather than evil, how her judgement is crystal clear despite her cursed fate.

This is the ever famous Amano Curse, right in front of him. The very curse that has the power to eliminate even the strongest Special Grade Curse to exist. This is the girl who was cursed by her own family. The girl whose cursed energy rivals even Okkotsu Yuta's, and threatens to overpower him one day. Inwardly, the white haired man grins wider- he would like to see that happen.

"You're Gojo Satoru." She says in a matter-of-factly tone. Her expression is unsurprised and bored, which slightly offends the man.

"And you're Amano Akane." He says back in a tone opposing hers, masking his amusement perfectly.

"I am." Her voice is calm, but her heterochromatic eyes threaten to burn a hole in his blindfold.

"You're coming with me, Akane." Gojo says, mimicking her earlier matter-of-fact tone. "You have been chosen as the second first year student at Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College, and your family have agreed to admit you."

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In the span of months after she succumbed into the world of jujutsu sorcery, Amano Akane has learned one indispensable lesson that she keeps in front of her mind at every moment, even when she isn't exorcising Curses, even when she's fast asleep- in the jujutsu world, it's either one of two things for every sorcerer- kill or be killed.

It's a simple line that bears a death sentence, that Gojo Satoru so conveniently said to her when she joined Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College. Akane remembers not having much of a reaction when the blindfolded man welcomed her with this sentence, and he laughed at that, apparently feeling amused by her nonchalance. Truthfully, the reason why Akane did not have much of a reaction was because that lesson was something that she'd already been taught as a mere child. It was exactly what her parents and grandmother had made her remember for the moment when she would meet the end of her fate- kill or be killed. Akane has to kill, or rather exorcise the Curse on the other end, even if it means dying in the process.

But only after she became a jujutsu sorcerer, she realised the true meaning behind it. Jujutsu does not just mean exorcising Curses that were formed by accumulated negative energy, it means saving the ones victimized by the curses too- although jujutsu sorcerers like her are more likely to fail than pass in this crucial task. The first priority is to get rid of the Curse in question, and then save the non-shaman to reduce the casualty count. 'Reduce' because it's almost impossible for there to be no casualties at all.

That's why it's important for Akane to finish the Cursed Spirit she was born to end. If this Cursed Spirit were to no longer exist, the world would be a much safer space compared to before. Her clan believes the 'miracle' of her cursed energy is for the sole reason of bringing the Amano's back to its former glory. Akane half-believes this, but she unconditionally hates the weight that has been thrown on her shoulders. Hates that she was born with cursed energy like an abnormal baby, hates that her family didn't hesitate to aggravate her cursed energy even further. She hates that her family cursed her to a fate she can't escape from.

Until a few months ago, the Amano clan threw burdens after burdens on Akane's back, sticking to her like leech, investigating more ways to make Akane's already lethal curse more deadly- they were ready to do anything to overthrow the higher-ups and 'rule the world once more'. They never saw Akane as their clan heir, to them she was just a weapon. A means of invasion. A way to bring power to a clan that has been insignificant for centuries.

Yet, despite all this, Akane tugs to their strings like a helpless puppet. She follows their orders, stays silent even when she disagrees and does nothing even when she's tired and needs a rest. Akane knows as well as the rest of the Amano clan that she is more than capable of overpowering her clan. And yet, she does nothing. Her clan knows the power they hold over Akane, they have been a source of emotional trauma for the girl and she can't close her eyes for even a second before the menacing eyes of her family appear behind her lids, lashing at her, mocking her for being weak.

Akane knows she should get rid of her family's control over her- she knows it all too well. Yet she finds herself hesitant to do so. Why? Because her whole life, her family has drilled the fact that there's only one purpose to her life into her head- kill the strongest Cursed Spirit and return the throne of jujutsu's most powerful and fearsome clan to the Amano's. 'Nothing else matters about you. If you can't do the one thing you were born for- shame on you.' That's what they told her. That's what she was forced to hear.

If Gojo didn't find her and persuade her family to let her join Jujutsu Tech, Akane is sure her family would have driven her to madness. She will never tell Gojo this, but she is grateful for his intervention.

She fears that if her family is no more, then there will be no purpose to her life. Akane would just be existing in a world that didn't need her, like a lost soul with no road for escape. That is what Akane wants to avoid, and that is why she heeds to her clan's every command even though she disagrees.

That is also the reason why she's anxious right now, though her blank face conveys nothing. She watches in anticipation as her raven haired classmate opens and closes the door to the instrumental shelter multiple times to reveal the same thing- nothing.

She tastes dread on her tongue. What kind of jujutsu sorcerer is she if she can't even complete a mission as simple as this?

Akane hears the black haired boy sigh in front of her. He turns around to face her, a frown written on his face as his hair spiked sways softly with the cool summer breeze. "It's not here."

It- as in a Special Grade Cursed Object, Ryomen Sukuna's finger. The very same Ryomen Sukuna who humiliated, defeated and overthrew her clan's reign a thousand years ago.

It's missing.

"Who else knows the location of the object?" Akane asks, schooling a straight face.

Fushiguro Megumi grunts. "No one outside Jujutsu Tech should know this location. I doubt this was the doing of a Curse, the talisman that protects it is powerful enough to repel any curse unless it's been taken off." He pinches his brows together in thought. "But it was already stupid to hide a Special Grade object like this in plain sight, my best bet is that someone from the school found it, expecting to show off to the rest."

Akane frowns. "A school... that's the worst possible location for a Cursed Object like that to be in." Her heterochromatic eyes look at Megumi expectantly. "Call Gojo."

"Already on it," Megumi says, his phone in his hand. He keeps it on speaker as it rings, and a second later Gojo answers. "Hel-"

"We couldn't find it." Megumi interrupts.

"Eh?"

"The instrument shelter is empty."

"Are you serious?" Gojo asks, concern stinging his voice. Akane raises her mismatched brows, she half-expected him to crack a joke like he always did in serious situations like this. 'That's good, he's finally acting his age.' "That's funny. Maybe it went for a walk?"

'... Nevermind.'

Akane snatches Megumi's phone from his hands before he could respond. "Gojo. Be serious. Where is it?"

"Don't be such a worrywart, Akane-chan, you'll get wrinkles. Besides, how would I know where it is?"

"I'm gonna hit you." Megumi threatens, gritting his teeth in irritation.

"Well, you can't come back without that."

"But where-"

There's a ruffle followed by a beep that tells the first years that their teacher cut their call. "I don't believe this, he has the Six Eyes and can't even find a finger."

"I'm gonna punch him." Megumi's frown doesn't falter, his midnight eyes move to the night sky as he sighs in exasperation. "Well, at least we have a lead. We'll come back tomorrow, do a thorough search in the school. I'm not surprised there's a teenager stupid enough to just pick up something that's obviously dangerous- they're all the same."

"You're a teenager too." Akane deadpans.

Megumi narrows his eyes. "I'm not a non-shaman. At least I'm cognizant."

Akane ignores his statement, her eyes studying their surroundings. The time is close to midnight now, and the moonlight is the only source of light for the duo. Before the drawback, they expected to finish the task by now and be on their way back to Tokyo by taking a night train, but now due to the unexpected change of plans, they'll have to stay here another night.

"Let's find a motel." Akane suggests, already walking away from the shelter. "There should be one close."

Megumi groans annoyingly and Akane hears him mutter 'I didn't sign up to waste money like this.' But he follows her anyway. They walk side-by-side in a comfortable silence they know all too well since neither of them are much of a talker (a great contrast to their chatty teacher). Megumi and Akane have been each other's only company for a while now, and they're the closest thing they had to a friend. Since the second and third years often went away for missions, and Gojo his 'business trips', they only had each other for company. For Akane, this is the first time she isn't disgusted by someone's close presence. With her family's constant nagging for her 'specialties', she was even deprived of having friends as a kid.

But Akane is happy that she gets to call Megumi her first potential friend.

"Uh..." Megumi interrupts the quietness with an uncertain tone. Akane looks up at him with confusion, and her mismatched eyes follow to where he points. Her eyes slightly widen with realisation. "Oh."

She almost forgot about how moonlight betrays her curse. The blood red binding around her finger is bright under the pale light, its endless stream leading somewhere to the right. Although she is used to seeing this phenomenon every night, she remembers that Megumi has only seen it a handful of times. Each time he was acting awkwardly when he saw it, and Akane assumes it's because he's looking directly at the curse that he knows ruined her life. If she was someone who expressed her feelings, Akane would tell him that she didn't really care, that she was used to it.

But Akane dislikes expressing her feelings, so she says nothing. Instead she flicks her hand to dismiss the curse, watching it quietly fading into invisibility as though it isn't something that binds her to ruination.

The silence returns and it stays that way for five more minutes.

"How do you handle it?" Megumi suddenly asks. Akane widens her eyes at this, she thought their small conversation for tonight was already over. "What?" She asks.

"The Curse." Megumi clarifies, dark eyes narrowed. "It doesn't look like it bothers you at all- unless you're good at hiding it, which I don't doubt you are."

Akane just shrugs. "Being bothered by it changes nothing, it's still gonna be there. I'm used to it."

"I see..." Megumi says softly, a small frown playing on his lips. "So does that mean you're actually bothered by it?"

Again, this takes Akane by surprise. Megumi never held a conversation with her for more than five minutes, unless it was something jujutsu-related, let alone ask questions like this. She looks up at him, trying to figure out his reasons for his sudden interrogation. But just like her, Megumi's face betrays nothing. "Of course it does, the Curse was forced into my system. But like I said, it doesn't matter. The Curse will never disappear."

Much to her relief, Megumi doesn't question her further and they continue to walk until they find a motel to stay in for the night, and this time the silence was uncomfortable.

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The next day, the duo arrive at Miyagi Sugisawa Municipal High School, keeping their eyes peeled for any residence of massive cursed energy that Sukuna's finger is bound to have even with the talisman protecting it.

They decided together to check outside the school first, around the field where most students will undeniably spend hours either playing or skipping classes. Akane never understood why regular teenagers found a sense of accomplishment by bunking classes that would obviously benefit them, she never once missed a class in Jujutsu Tech- ironically it was Gojo who skipped classes most, although as the strongest jujutsu sorcerer it was excusable.

Megumi and Akane wait near the rugby field, their eyes carefully scanning the students that pass by. "If we don't find it here, you have to do a thorough search inside the school, Amano."

"Okay." Akane agrees.

She feels Megemi's gaze lingering on her and looks up expectantly. "What is it?"

"You'll have to use your cursed technique to enter, otherwise you won't be allowed inside."

Akane pinches her mismatched brows together, a dissatisfied frown on her face. "I can persuade the people at the receptions without using Mind Warping."

Megumi scoffs. "Yeah, right. They'll already be suspicious of you by your eyes and hair, and your poor communication skills will do less to erase their doubts." He reaches his hand out behind her neck where the hoodie of her uniform lies and pulls it over her head without warning. "Wear it. Your hair will bring us unwanted attention."

She listens as she tucks her hair under the material. "I'm still not using Mind Warping."

"The last thing we need is the reception calling security and dragging us out. Besides it's nothing major, just trick them into letting you in."

Akane bites her up in frustration but says nothing, she knows that what Megumi said was true. Tricking others is the easiest level of Mind Warping that she can fulfill without issues, but something about her cursed technique irks her.

She doesn't want to dwell into the history of her technique or the abundant curse inside her that allows it to be more powerful than most. Truthfully, Akane hardly uses Mind Warping- she relies solely on her cursed tool whenever a dire situation calls for it. Not only does her technique bring her to a certain level of disadvantage (as she needs to make physical contact with her victim in order to implement her curse on them), but the fragile art of manipulating minds- with or without consent- is sacred and unique to her alone. It's certainly not something she can fling around daily like it's nothing. Akane believes that her technique can become more of a curse than the one her clan hardwired into her body when it's harnessed for deadly intentions.

Akane doesn't use Mind Warping often, and she intends to never use it, if possible. It's a delicate technique, like trying to diffuse a timed bomb- one wrong move and she can accidentally fry someone's brain.

"Let's go." Megumi says as he walks into the field and Akane follows him. The moment she enters the ground, a strange rush of energy washes over and Akane furrows her brows as she looks around. There is definitely a curse lurking around here.

"What's wrong with this rugby field?" Megumi asks, feeling the same disturbed energy as her. He looks on the ground in front of him and watches meekly as a dirty blue curse swims through it like water, its eyes an ugly shade of red with a malicious smirk. "Is there a corpse buried down there?"

Their eyes follow the curse as it chitters menacingly, crawling on top of a nearby pole. "It's a Second Grade Curse." Akane notes, her heterochromatic eyes narrowed. "Let's exorcise it. It's disrupting us from finding that Special Grade Object."

"We'll do it after we find the Special Grade." Megumi suggests. "We can't afford to delay that."

"Let's go! Itadori and Takagi are competing!" One of the students shouts, running towards the center of the school ground where a crowd has already gathered. These students had voluntarily decided to become the audience of a shot put competition between a middle aged man who obviously has to be the school coach and a pink haired teenage boy who wears a yellow hoodie, a big grin on his kind face. The naivety on his face is one that Akane is jealous of, he's one of those non-shamans who will remain blissfully unaware of curses for the rest of their lives.

"Forty-five meters!" A student shouts after measuring the teacher's score. A round of applause follows as the man flexes his muscle (Akane raises her brows at this).

Next is the pink haired boy's turn- Itadori- the entire ground chants his name as he takes position. Megumi and Akane watch with no comments, this will be the most relaxation they can get until they retrieve the Special Grade Object.

Itadori's ball lands all the way to the other end, creating a dent in the metal goal post. Both Megumi and Akane lift their brows with shock. "He did that without cursed energy?" Akane asks, mostly to herself than to Megumi.

"That guy's amazing. Just how much can he do without cursed energy?"

"Maybe he's like Zen'in-senpai?" Akane says with a shrug. "He can easily become a Grade Two if he becomes a jujutsu sorcerer."

"Whatever," Megumi says in half-urgency, turning around. "The finger isn't with any of the students here. It's your turn to search inside."

Akane sighs with defeat. "Right. I'll call you if I find anything-"

Fear takes over her. Her eyes widen, heart palpitating in terror and for a second she knows nothing but sheer fright. Like dread has fingers that clamps tightly around her throat, around her heart, threatening to crush her into a pool of blood. She only sees red, and then a monster, a breath of evil, echoes of maniacal laughter and an inexplicable cursed energy that is a thousand times more intense than hers.

Half a second later, the feeling of dread is gone.

Her eyes immediately snap to the boy who just passed by them, dashing towards the exit, his pink hair and sunshine yellow hoodie contrasting everything his presence just gave her. Megumi speaks up before she can. "The breath of a cursed object...? OI! Wait!"

Itadori doesn't hear Megumi, sprinting away in incomprehensible speed that makes Akane widen her eyes. "He's too fast."

Akane clenches her fist, not hearing whatever Megumi says as she recalls that moment of utter fear. That cursed energy... is that what it's gonna be like when I meet the strongest Cursed Spirit I have to kill?'

Her breath hitches at the mere thought. All these years, Akane told herself she was ready to meet her fate.

Amano Akane now knows she is not ready to reach their other end of the red string.

A/N:

First of all, IM SO SORRY FOR UPDATING SO LATE 😭😭

I know I said I'll put out this chapter on the 1st of September (and now this month has almost ended 😃) but so much has happened this month, I didn't even have the time to balance my fics with my personal life. Even though I pre-wrote this I had to beta read it for editing, and I was only able to read HALF of this chapter, so please ignore the grammatical errors 😭

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though it's fillery. Updates will probably be slow since I'm focusing more on pre-writing! Thank you for being patient 🥺💗