❯ Our lives are meaningless, therefore we can do anything we want. ❮

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"Are you going to stand there all day, jujutsu sorcerer?"

You froze, unnerved by his melodic voice which echoed in the silence of the sewer tunnel.

"How'd you know it was me?" You spoke quietly, your eyebrows furrowed in confusion as you appeared from the shadows into his peripheral vision.

The lakeshore-blue haired male seemed to shrug, lying in his hammock with one of his arms folded beneath his head while the other was holding a book. "It's not hard to guess."

He turned to look at you with a faint smile on his face, there was no way he could've seen you in the dark. "I know the sound of your footsteps."

Ignoring his statement, you sat down on the ground a few feet away from him and leaned against the wall. "How have you been?"

"I can't complain, now that you're here."

You bit your lower lip at that, avoiding his gaze and staring ahead at the wall in front of you. "Can I ask you something?" You spoke hesitantly, but taking his silence as an answer, you pondered on the question before finally saying it.

You'd been wanting to ask him about it ever since you met, "The things they say about you.. about what you've done to that boy, are they true?"

Mahito snickered, causing your to look up at him from your sitting position. "Guilty as charged."

"Why?" You asked, eyes wide in disbelief, yet deep down you knew that this shouldn't have surprised you. He was quiet, the smile still on his face, he was always so quiet, barely telling you anything. It was almost transparent that there was another side to him.

"Why?" You repeated, your voice firmer than before.

"You don't need to know my reason for anything." He said almost too calmly.

Yet you shook your head, pushing the subject. "What were you hoping to achieve?"

He simply yawned before childishly remarking; "Boring!" Then again, he wasn't around for long, making him have a child-like mentality. You were foolishly hoping for him to change one day. "Come back once you quit being such a bore and have actual interesting matters to talk about, my beloved grade 1."

This caused you to glare up at him, questioning yourself why you were here to begin with. He was insufferable at times.

"You know," You started, "You told me that you were born from humans' hatred for each other, and that often makes me wonder if you're even capable of love.."

"Perhaps." His taunting tone only made your emotions flare up, and immediately a bitter chuckle met your ears. "What is love to you?" He asked, straightening himself up from his lying position and setting his book aside.

You say nothing and continue to burn him with your stare. You couldn't tell if this was one of his little games or if he was serious, because the way he talked right now, made every word he said to you in the past, seem like a lie.

His smile widened as he looked down at you, eyes filled with amusement. "Well?" He breathed, "I'm waiting."

"Love is," You muttered, trying to find the right words while diverting your gaze from his. Sometimes it was easier to avoid his gaze than to look him in the eyes. "Caring for someone else's well-being more than your own, and when the one you love is hurt, you feel as if that pain has been inflicted on you as well." Now you looked back at him again. "At the moment it really comes down to it, it's being ready to die for the one you love."

Once you finished your sentence, you heard his feet connect with the floor as he hopped off the hammock, the sound echoing through the tunnel, he was now starring down at you, yet still standing at a safe distance. "For each man kills the very thing he loves, yet each man does not die." He quoted, putting his hand on his chin. "Does that sound familiar?"

"Sort of does, yes." You replied in confusion, "but not many people around here seem to know this quote, why are you telling me this?"

He chuckled, crossing his arms, "Of course. The man who said it wasn't Japanese after all. It was Oscar Wilde; an Irish poet."

"That's right." You nodded, "I didn't know that you've read 'The ballad of reading gaol'."

"Some do it with a bitter look, some with a flattering word." He quoted as if he didn't hear you.

"The coward does it with a kiss.. the brave man with a sword." You continued, trying to recall the verses. "Some love too little, some too long."

"Some do the deed with many tears, and some without a sigh; for each man kills the thing he loves, yet each man does not die." He finished.

"But that's not what love is supposed to be like." You quickly interjected.

"How come?" He grinned, "Is there really a proper way to love someone?"

"There is." You responded almost immediately.

"Taking into account what you had previously said, I'll ask you this; would you die for me?" He asked innocently, in an almost child-like tone.

You were a bit taken aback by his question, yet immediately responded to him; "I would."

"Is that so?" His grin widened and at this point you asked yourself if his grin could get even wider, and in that very moment he bursted out laughing. "You suck at lying!"

"I'm not lying."

"Don't let yourself get fooled by some ideal concept of love." He said, taking a step forward. "There is no right answer for how to love, and you can very well live without the one you love."

Immediately heaving yourself up, you took a step backward and looked at the screen of your phone nervously. "So late already?" You chuckled, "Better get back to Jujutsu Tech before-"

"Why do you always try to run away from me, scaredy-cat?"

Another step, the more steps he took forward the more you took backward.

A sudden feeling of fear and uneasiness washed over you and you glanced back at the exit of the tunnel, following your movements, he knew exactly what you were thinking. "You take one step out of this tunnel and I promise you will regret it." He warned, "Unless you want to play tag again?"

He put a hand on his hip, watching you intently, yet you still dared to turn around and and walk towards the exist, he didn't think you would do it. "Where is all of this headed.." You muttered.

You were slipping away.

It was only when your footsteps became a distant sound that he actually snapped out of his thoughts and called out for you; "So you really want to play, huh?" He could feel his resentment for you rise from deep within his soul, wondering how he could rid himself from the anguish consuming him. With deliberate steps, he followed you, the sound of his steps causing you to turn around and face him.

"I don't like this." You let him know, your (e/c) eyes staring into his grey ones.

"Neither do I." He smiled.

You rolled your eyes, you had no time for this. "I have to get back, the others must be worried by now."

A laugh escaped his lips. "Don't let yourself get fooled, my love. After all, I'm the only one who really cares for you."

The cold night breeze that came through the exit caressed your face, making your hair fly in all directions. "That's not true."

"Oh but it is." He chuckled, cocking an eyebrow in amusement. "Now come to me."

"No." You shot down his demand.

"How cruel you are." He feigned being upset, "It's painful to be so close to you, yet not being able to touch you. Why won't you ease me of my pain?"

You heaved a sigh. What were you so scared of, death? You'd told him that you'd die for him, and now being so afraid of him made you look like a liar, and you were not a liar. Sensing no hostility from him, you took a couple steps forward, and to your surprise, he took it as a sign and immediately stood in front of you.

You felt your heart skip a beat as his hand came in contact with yours, his touch was surprisingly gentle. "This is the closest I've ever gotten to you."

But close wasn't close enough. You felt his arms wrap around you and trail down your waist, curling around the small of your back, pressing you into him, your faces only inches away, causing your heart to threaten to pound its way out of your chest. He slowly closed the gap, capturing your lips with his, causing you to grab each side of his face and hold him in place, deepening the kiss. You felt the heat take over your whole body as he moved his lips against yours.

"I'm grateful." He whispered, after pulling away, leaving you wanting for more as he stared deeply into your eyes. "For your trust."

He moved his head to plant a kiss on your cheek, "For your lovely eyes." He continued, lowering his head, he moved a few strands of your hair aside and planted a tender kiss on your neck before resting his head on the crook of your neck and inhaling the scent of your hair. "And your love."

You closed your eyes and stroked his hair, feeling content in his divine embrace, wanting to stay with him like this forever. "I'm truly grateful."

You hummed, feeling his hands go underneath your shirt, touching your bare waist as his grip around you tightened almost painfully. In that moment realization hit you as a tear slipped from your eyes, yet your smile never wavered.

"Idle transfiguration."

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