[Itadori's POV]

I decided to head back to my room after witnessing what I did in the kitchen.

I was in two minds about everything. I knew Megumi probably liked her. I hadn't really stopped to consider that she would like him back. Or they'd kiss. In front of my face.

"Lady trouble?"

Jesus Christ.

"Shut up, Sukuna."

"Now, now, brat. Jealousy is an ugly thing, and you certainly don't need anymore of that - ha!"

"Hilarious," I huffed, throwing myself down on my bed. I couldn't stop thinking about her, though. She looked so pretty in her dress. Fuck, she looked pretty all the time. I could barely be around her without thinking shit like that.

"Someone's helplessly in love."

"Stop listening to my thoughts."

"I wish I could, stupid boy. You think loud enough that I'm surprised Megumi can't hear you in the next room."

Megumi in the next room, shit. What if I hear him with her in there?

"Ugh!" I screamed, using a pillow to silence myself.

"Now that would be an event I'd like to hear," Sukuna laughed heartily.

"Dude, shut the fuck up! Seriously!"

"The little bird. I'd like to have a go with her if I could."

I held my ears as if that was going to help anything. Sukuna didn't stop.

"Her power, it's prophesised. She'd certainly be a better vessel than you, brat!"

"So that's your game?"

I was too in tune with my conversation with Sukuna to hear the knock and entry to my door.

"You finally lost it?" Megumi asked.

"No," Sukuna chimed in, I slapped my cheek to try and shut him up, but he just bit me, "He's in despair."

"Despair?" Megumi questioned.

"Yes, yes. Deep despair. Since you've caught the little bird, he doesn't know what to do with himself. He's distraught."

Megumi cocked his eyebrows, staring me down as if he was ready to fight. It made me kind of nervous to see him like that.

"That's not it," I laughed it off, "Sukuna has vested interest in her because of her 'ancient power' or something. He's trying to convince me that I like her, but I think he actually just wants me closer to her."

I didn't realise I could lie so easily off the cuff like that.

Megumi's eyes narrowed, focusing on Sukuna's grinning mouth on my cheek, "What about her power?"

"I was just telling the brat," he grinned, "She'd be a better vessel than him, if I didn't have other plans with that sweet little bird."

"Cut the shit," Megumi was furious, "What are you talking about? What specifically about her power is it that is interesting?"

"Oh you know, the potential of regeneration. It's a feat not many can accomplish. It's believed that the Phoenix sorcerer in her prime at one point could raise the dead."

I tried to understand what he was meaning, truly wondering why Sukuna would offer up all this information for free. There must've been something deeper to it. I had no idea what it could've entailed, but it looked like Megumi had an idea.

"Raise the dead?" he scoffed, "You're not serious."

"Oh, very," Sukuna grinned, "In fact, so serious that I'd bet there's a myriad of sorcerers and curses seeking her out now. Imagine what she could do if she knew her true potential. Especially since you idiots exposed her existence to a room full of sorcerers at a ball."

He was cackling maniacally but Megumi was too deep in thought to notice. He left the room with no further words.

"What the fuck is this all about?" I asked Sukuna after Megumi left.

...

...

...

"Ah, of course. Now you want to be quiet."

---

[3rd person POV]

The party was pretty much over, everyone withdrawing back to their dorms. Megumi made his way to Gojo in the main foyer, pulling him to the side with wild eyes.

"What's troubling you?" Gojo asked.

"Sukuna. He said something weird about Ayane's powers."

"Sukuna?" Gojo questioned, eyes full of curiosity, "I didn't know you two were friends."

"Please, try and be serious."

Gojo was surprised to see Megumi concerned and not pissed off at his words, so he took him seriously, "What did he say?"

"He said that she might be able to bring people back to life. Curses or humans. That might be why people are after her, especially since we took her to the ball and people got to know who she was."

Gojo hummed lightly, but he did not look the least bit surprised.

"Yes, I theorised as much."

"You- what?! You knew and you still let her go to the ball anyways?!"

"Calm down, Megumi. I didn't consider it till the attack at the ball. Then I knew we had to keep her in."

Megumi ran his hands through his hair, clearly stressed out with everything. Gojo was shocked to see him so emotional about a situation.

"I believe that there probably are some less than savoury curses or sorcerers out there who know about her, now. I had tried to trace the cursed energy of the bird attack, but nothing came of it. Whoever it was is excellent at sneaking around."

The raven haired boy hummed in acknowledgement, "I get it. What I don't get is why Sukuna said she could revert curses. Aren't curses a result of human emotion?"

"I guess that's something we'll come to find out," Gojo sighed, "There's much about the sorcerer world that is contradictory."

There was a small pause, but Gojo just couldn't help himself. He wanted to dispel the tense atmosphere.

"So, was your first kiss magical?" he smirked.

"Why are you asking me that. And how do you even know that?"

"Why are you asking me how I know something?"

Megumi couldn't argue with that. He found himself not caring for the teasing and decided to answer earnestly, "It was...nice."

"That's all I get, 'nice'?"

"Yes, that's all you get."

Gojo smiled, patting Megumi on the back, "I've been thinking. I know it may sound counter-intuitive, but I reckon it's about time to set Ayane free. I believe she's ready."

Megumi was delighted to hear the news, even a smile etching on his face in hope, "Seriously?"

"Well, I decided since she can draw out her wings of fire now, and her fire is mostly under control, I don't see why not. I doubt anything too crazy could happen, as long as she has accompaniment. Which I'm sure she'll have no shortage of," he winked, "So, would you like to come with me to deliver the good news?"

Megumi nodded, perhaps a little bit too enthusiastically.

The two headed towards Ayane's dorm, but what they weren't expecting to find was her door unlocked and her not there.

"Hm, maybe she went for a wander?" Gojo pondered.

"No," Megumi said seriously, looking at her bed, "That's blood."

Gojo inspected it carefully, noting that it was, in fact, blood. The window was wide open and slightly cracked, a breeze drafting in, with more tiny little splatters on the broken glass.

"Where the fuck is she?"