Pickles ||Inumaki x Reader||

Three || Broken Windows

-Art by shiojuu on Instagram-

The patter of the rain never once eased as we walked along the empty pavement. My eyes trailed to the tall building that loomed over us like a god, analysing the dark cloud of cursed energy which surrounded it.

"Are you both ready?" Gojo said seriously, standing at a distance. Toge and I glanced at each other before giving the man an affirming nod. "I'll lower the curtain now. I heard the building is rather unstable so be careful- don't die, you two." He grinned mischievously before my view of our teacher was cut off completely as a black barrier appeared between us, shielding us off from the world.

The air reeked of a revolting smell that only got stronger the closer we got towards the building. It was an old office being dominated by a first-grade spirit. 

Originally being Gojo's responsibility, the mission was passed on to Toge and I as we were both grade-two sorcerers and were seen as capable enough to handle it. It wasn't uncommon for us to be sent to exorcise curses of higher grades than us and we almost always did it together. Gojo insisted he liked to push his students when giving us his missions but I had a feeling the real reason was so that he could slack off; I knew this because if I was him, I'd do the same.

Toge and I ventured through the floors of the abandoned building without finding the curse, despite how strong it's presence was. The office itself was a mess with broken chairs and tables scattered everywhere along with debris from the disintegrating walls and ceilings. The repulsive scent complemented the sound of the rain thundering against the windows and the distant humming of a broken computer, adding to the uneasy atmosphere. 

We were on the sixth floor when a sudden crackling sound came from the storey above us. I halted in my tracks that instance and I could tell my partner sensed the same: the curse was directly above us. Slowly, I turned around to Toge with an unsettling feeling rushing through my veins. "I think it knows we're-"

Before I knew it, I was flung backwards until the back of my head hit the large windows, feeling them cracking beneath me at the harsh impact. My view was distorted by the smoke and rubble caused by the roof suddenly collapsing. It took a moment for my eyes to focus enough to be able to see a grotesque creature through the smoke. What broke through the ceiling to greet us was a large, bird-like curse. I knew it just from the energy it radiated that it was the grade one.

Dropping to the floor, I squinted to try to spot Toge among the mess. He was on the other side of the room in a similar state to how I was a second ago, having been thrown into the wall by the explosion. However, he was standing closer to the curse when it appeared, resulting in more damage as blood dripped from his forehead while he fought to stay conscious. I had to distract the spirit long enough for him to get back on his feet.

Boosting the speed of my legs, I dashed for the cursed spirit at an inhumane rate and leaped into the air just as it spotted me. I gave it no time to react when I switched the speed from my legs to my arms and punched it with all my might. 

With how fast I was moving, my body generated electricity combined with my cursed energy. The moment my fist collided with the curse, static traveled through my arms and to the harrowing monster, only for it to let out an agonising shriek before outstretching its wings and sending me through the air again, this time with more force.

My body skidded across the floor all the whilst Toge mustered the strength to push himself out of the hole in the wall. "Twist!" He screamed before the curse was distorted out of it's natural shape. 

As it fought for release, the boy stumbled to where I was struggling to stand and grabbed me by the arm, yanking me to the side. It was almost as if he predicted the curses's actions because it regenerated quickly and charged to where I was just standing a second ago.