Even as they left for their mission, Hitomi couldn't help but think of Riko, the young girl who had been chosen as the Star Plasma vessel. She would lose herself, everything and everyone. That was the curse that came with being born in the world of Jujutsu. Immense loss and grief were a part of you from the beginning of your life.

It was a particularly hot day today and as they arrived at the location of the Vessel, Gojo made a beeline for the vending machine in the courtyard. It was in an area with a lot of trees, so they were shaded from the sun.

"If the kid who is the Star Plasma Vessel refuses the merger," Gojo suddenly said, spinning a couple of coins between his fingers. "Then we call it off!"

The increased passion in that last sentence struck Hitomi's heart. After all, Gojo successfully voiced out exactly what she had wanted to say. As selfish and arrogant as Gojo seemed, there was a lot of kindness in him; kindness that came out in moments like these.

Geto let out a small laugh. "Are you sure about that?"

"Huh?!" Gojo looked at him with a confused stare.

"The three of us might have to fight Tengen-sama," Geto said.

"Are you two scared?" Gojo smirked.

"No, I think we'll be fine," Geto answered.

"It'd be good exercise, I suppose," Hitomi shrugged and let the smallest of smiles cover her face. She was proud to call them her best friends.

"But for real," Gojo pressed the button on the vending machine, choosing a cold drink. "I get why the curse-user group Q is after her, but why does the Star Religious group want to kill her?"

"They worship a pure Master Tengen," Geto explained. "According to them, a Star Plasma vessel would pollute that purity."

"But they're not the ones we have to worry about," Hitomi added, running a hand through her hair. "They're non-curse users. But we do need to keep an eye out for Q."

"Anyway," Gojo said just as he finished his drink. "It should be okay. We're the strongest. And then of course, there's Hitomi."

"Gojo, what the hell man?! I'll kill you, jerkface!" Hitomi turned towards him with a glare, fists raised to punch. Geto grabbed her shoulder and shook his head with an exasperated smile. She scoffed before dropping her hands to her sides.

"Satoru, I've been meaning to tell you this," Geto stated firmly. "You should stop being so full of yourself. Especially when you're addressing your superiors. We might end up meeting Tengen-sama, after all. You should be more polite and humble. And quit making fun of Hitomi. You shouldn't be underestimating her."

"Thank you for saying that," Hitomi answered and then snorted when she saw how irritated Gojo looked. Just as she was about to do the mature thing of sticking her tongue out at the white-haired boy, there was an explosion in the building behind. The exact building where the Star Plasma Vessel was supposed to be. Plumes of smoke poured out from the part of the building that had exploded.

"You think we'll be blamed if the brat died from that?" Gojo asked, as they got ready to fight.

"Don't be so negative, six eyes," Hitomi stretched her arms as the scarlet energy of gravity covered them.

And then, they were off.

The Vessel (Hitomi really should stop referring to her as that) had been thrown out the window, in all probability by a soldier from Q. Geto, on top of one of his flying curses, flew above just in time to catch her. Hitomi floated along next to him, her red cursed energy making a platform beneath her feet. Her hair was flying uncontrollably in the wind, smacking her in the face. With a frustrated sigh, she pushed it all behind her ears, taking in her surroundings.

"Would you please stop making us stand out?" Geto said calmly, holding the young girl in his arms. "We just got chewed out for that this morning."

Hitomi quickly glanced at the girl. 'She looks so young...'

"I know those uniforms," The soldier from Q looked like he recognized them. "You're sorcerers from Jujutsu High, right? Hand over the kid. Or I'll kill you."

"Sorry, what did you say?" Hitomi mocked, a hand over her ear. "Couldn't hear you."

"Can't hear you either," Geto smirked deviously. "Come closer and talk."

Hitomi smirked, crossing her arms. Though this soldier seemed strong, his cursed energy was no match for Geto and Hitomi.

This mission was going to start off easy. (And stay this way, hopefully.)

*

"Perfect."

Hitomi sipped the tea Geto had brewed. One of the many things Geto was good at was making tea and she was always hounding him to brew her a cup. "You did a great job with this one."

"Don't I always?" Geto asked, with raised eyebrows as he sat next to her on the couch, with his own cup of tea.

The Q soldier was trapped in one of Geto's curses. The sounds of his struggle filled the room, but Hitomi and Geto ignored him. The room was still half-destroyed and smoke spread through the air outside the broken window, but they ignored the struggling soldier. Hitomi and Geto were on their phones. Amanai Riko was secured on the couch opposite to them, along with her guardian who was also knocked out.

"Sorry! I said I'm sorry! I'll withdraw from the mission! I'll quit being a curse user too! Q as well of course! That's right! I'll go back to the countryside and grow rice!"

"Please! Please listen to me! I was wrong! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I'll pull out of this job! I'll quit being a curse user, too! Of course I'll quit Q, too! I know! I'll go back to the countryside and farm rice!"

"Eh?" Geto put his hand to his ear, pretending to have a hard time hearing the soldier. Hitomi just ignored him straight out, focusing on finishing her tea

"I know you two can hear me!" The soldier yelled out in anger.

"Like a curse user could cut it as a farmer," Geto made a face.

Hitomi snorted. "That's the most absurd thing I have ever heard."

"You two can hear me!" The soldier continued to yell. "Damn students acting all condescending! But Vayer-san is here too! He's Q's strongest soldier! He'll take care of you and these things!"

Hitomi looked at her phone just as a text message arrived from Gojo. She opened it and nearly burst out laughing when she saw the photo.

"Hey," Geto interrupted the soldier's angry tirade. He raised his phone towards the soldier, showing him the picture. It was Gojo, doing a peace sign in front of a beaten up body of a Q soldier. "Is this your 'Vayer'?"

The soldier's eyes widened in shock. He looked like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Yeah, that's him..."

"Never underestimate your opponents, you wannabe farmer," Hitomi spoke casually, letting an edge of steel remain in her voice. "It's the biggest mistake you can make. It's actually the biggest mistake you and Q made."

The organization called Q was done for.

*

Once Gojo had arrived at where they were waiting, he held Riko in his arms. He peered down at her, scanning her for any injuries.

"Should we take her to a doctor?" He asked, looking at Geto and Hitomi.

"I wish I could use the Reversed Cursed Technique like Shoko..." Geto said. Hitomi agreed with him. Shoko was the medical expert and besides, she couldn't even use the Reverse Cursed Technique on herself; no way in hell would she be able to use it on an injured girl.

Hitomi noticed the girl stirring in Gojo's arms and was ready to point that out, but it seemed Gojo had noticed it too. "Oh, you're awake."

Riko was quiet for the fraction of a second and then, without warning, she slapped Gojo hard. Hitomi covered her mouth as she tried and nearly failed to resist the urge to laugh. Next to her, Geto was already snickering. After all, there were not many opportunities where you saw Gojo getting hit like that.

Riko did a karate chop as she looked at Gojo. "You scum! If you want to kill me, you'll be the one to die first!"

"Riko-chan, calm down," Geto said with a smile as he waved his hand. "We're not with the group that attacked you."

"Liar! You have the face of a liar! Your bangs are weird, too!"

That was what it took for the dam to break. Hitomi burst out laughing. Oh, she loved this kid and how she just insulted Gojo and Geto without a care in the world. She laughed even harder when she saw how the two boys had grabbed her by her hands and feet and were swinging her in the air.

The elevator dinged open and Riko's guardian stepped, no, floated out. She was sitting on top of one of Geto's curses. "P-please stop it!"

Riko looked elated seeing her. "Kuroi!"

"Young lady," Kuroi said. "These three are our allies."

"Kuroi, what are you riding on?" Riko asked with a confused and slightly disgusted look.

"This is thanks to the Bangs Guy's technique," Kuroi pointed towards the curse.

"Could you not call me that?" Geto spoke, looking irritated. Hitomi patted his arm and resisted the urge to laugh, successfully this time.

"It's Curse Manipulation," Geto explained, as he calmed down. "As the name suggests, I can absorb and manipulate the cursed spirits I take in."

"This brat is more aggressive than I expected," Gojo said bluntly. "I was trying to figure out how to be considerate, thinking she'd be more sentimental about the assimilation thing."

"Gojo! Be a little nicer!" Hitomi looked at him with a slight glare. This guy, seriously...

"Ridiculous!" Riko replied, crossing her arms. "A commoner's way of thinking!"

"Huh-?!" Gojo sounded just a bit annoyed.

"Listen up!" Riko said. "Tengen-sama is me and I am Tengen-sama!"

'I am Izuki and Izuki is me...' How similar it sounded, Hitomi thought, to the phrase she used sometimes to refer to herself and the soul living in her soul. She played close attention to what Riko was saying but the boys were already zoning out.

"Some might mistake assimilation for death, as you do," Riko continued to explain. "But there's a big difference! I might become Tengen-sama through the assimilation. But Tengen-sama will also become me! My will! My heart! My soul will continue to live on after the assimilation!"

"Listen to me!" Riko snapped, stomping her feet on the ground.

"I bet you don't have many friends if you talk like that," Gojo said.

"We won't have to feel bad sending you off," Geto added.

"You guys are so mean," Hitomi shook her head with exasperation. The strongest duo apparently was also the most tactless one.

"I talk normally at school!" Then as though she had been punched, a look of realization crossed Riko's face. She immediately looked at Kuroi. "Kuroi what time is it?!"

"It's still before noon. But perhaps school can-" Kuroi started to say, but Riko interrupted her.

"Nonsense!" The younger girl said. "I'm going!"

"You know, it's actually a bad idea right?" Hitomi said. "There's people after you who want to kill you. I hope you haven't forgotten that."

"I know that!" Riko almost yelled, sounding a little angry. "But school's important too. I have to go there or people will say things."

Hitomi pinched the bridge of her nose. Something told her things were only going to get more difficult from this point out. 

As I post my updates, I keep on thinking. These characters are only happy temporarily; soon enough its going to be just pure angst and I am looking forward to sharing those chapters with you all. I honestly enjoy writing angst so much; but don't worry, I'll give you moments of fluff too hehe. 

Till then, I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter! Comments and votes are always appreciated <3