Curse Bound (Jujutsu Kaisen Fanfic)

11

The next morning, Hanako awoke to the gentle rustling of curtains and the soft golden glow of the sunrise. She let out a slight groan as she squinted at the sunlight beaming through the slightly opened window.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, her pupils constricting at the sudden brightness. The brilliant blue sky beyond the window greeted her, and she couldn't help but gasp at its beauty. It was as if she hadn't seen it in forever.

She sat up slowly in bed, her body still aching from the previous day's ordeal. Her eyes never left the outside of the window, as if she were afraid to look away. The soft chirping of birds filled the air, creating a peaceful ambiance.

As the curtains gently swayed in the breeze, Hanako felt her heart begin to calm. The gorgeous view of the sky and the sun rising over the horizon was like a balm to her soul.

Hanako took a deep breath, savoring the fresh scent of the morning dew. The tranquility of the scene outside brought a sense of calmness to her restless mind. But then she remembered being chained up and being told that she was going to be executed because of Akki. A sense of fear washed over her, and her heart began to race again.

Was she dead?

Was this the afterlife?

She glanced around, searching for any clues to her surroundings. But everything looked and sounded familiar. Hanako was confused and disoriented. She didn't know what to think.

"It looks like you're finally awake," Tsukumo said as she looked up from the book she had been reading. Hanako's eyes landed on her. She was sitting by her bedside, one leg crossed over the other, with a book that was in a different language in her hands.

A memory of her flashed in Hanako's mind, like a flickering candle flame. She remembered her speaking to her, her voice soft and soothing, and the warmth of her touch as she took Hanako's hand. But what Tsukumo had said, Hanako couldn't remember.

"Am I dead?" Hanako whispered, her voice trembling. "Is this the afterlife?" She closed her eyes and squeezed them tightly, hoping that when she opened them again, she would be back in her own bed, safe and sound.

But when she opened her eyes, the woman was still there, her expression filled with concern. "No, you're not dead, Hanako," Tsukumo said gently. "This is real life."

Hanako let out a sigh of relief, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She looked at the woman suspiciously. "Did they kill me already?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "And are you my guardian angel?"

Yuki raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smile. "No, I'm not your guardian angel," she said. "But I can understand why you might think of me as having been the one to keep you from being executed."

"Who are you, then?" she asked.

"Yuki Tsukumo, but just call me Yuki, alright?"

Hanako tilted her head, her eyes wide and curious. "Where am I?" she asked, her voice soft and raspy.

"You're in the infirmary at Kyoto Jujutsu Tech," Tsukumo replied with a gentle smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You passed out from dehydration and exhaustion yesterday, so we had to put you on an IV."

Hanako glanced down at her right arm, where a needle was inserted into her vein and an IV bag hung overhead. She felt a pang of embarrassment at her own weakness. "How long have I been out?"

"Over twelve hours," Tsukumo said. "But don't worry, you're going to be fine."

Hanako nodded, but her stomach growled loudly, interrupting her thoughts. She flushed red with embarrassment.