Saving You (ItaFushi)

Chapter 21

Gojo was right.

Using the newly learned techniques in his own body was much more challenging than using them in Gojo's body, and Megumi was having a hard time adjusting.

He was sitting on the floor, trying to catch his breath, while Gojo stood next to him, looking annoyingly smug.

"Not as easy as it looked, huh?" Gojo asked, grinning.

Megumi wanted to smack that stupid smile off his teacher's face.

"No. But, I'll get the hang of it," Megumi replied.

"Oh, I have no doubt about that. You're a talented kid, Megumi," Gojo said, and chuckled.

He leaned down, and patted Megumi on the head.

Megumi huffed.

"Gojo-sensei, I'm not a child. Please don't do that," he said, glaring.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. You're right. You're a grown man, aren't you? Doing all kinds of grown-up things with your boyfriend," Gojo teased.

"If you mention that one more time, I'm gonna summon Mahoraga on you," Megumi growled.

"You're so mean to me, Megumi," Gojo whined.

"And you're a nuisance," Megumi shot back.

He was tired, and cranky. He was also a little disappointed. He had thought that he could manage to use a Simple Domain, at least.

Well, he did create one, but, the barrier hadn't stay in place for long. It kept dissipating, and Megumi wasn't sure what the issue was. He was focusing, and, well, the domain was there, for a few seconds, but then, it disappeared.

"It'll come to you. Give yourself time," Gojo told him, his expression serious, for once.

"I don't have time," Megumi said, frustrated.

He was feeling guilty, and it was annoying him. He shouldn't feel guilty. They were doing everything in their power to defeat Kenjaku and stop Sukuna.

"Megumi, listen," Gojo said, and Megumi looked at him.

"What?"

"It's your way of thinking that's holding you back. You're overthinking things, and getting all worked up," Gojo explained. "It's not like you. Why are you suddenly so impatient?"

"I'm not," Megumi said, defensively.

"Yes, you are," Gojo insisted.

Megumi didn't respond.

Gojo was right. Of course he was right. Megumi was impatient. He had a very bad feeling, and, he was scared. He was scared of losing Yuji again. He was scared that Sukuna would somehow get his way, and kill everyone.

"Megumi. Do you want to know a secret?" Gojo asked.

"No," Megumi muttered.

"Too bad. You're gonna hear it, anyway," Gojo said, grinning.

He crouched down next to Megumi, and his expression changed.

"I'm scared, too," Gojo told him.

"Scared? You? No way," Megumi said, frowning.

"It's true," Gojo said, smiling.

"Of what?" Megumi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gojo reached out, and ruffled Megumi's hair.

"I'm scared of losing you, and the others. I'm scared that I won't be strong enough, or smart enough, or good enough, to keep you all safe."

Megumi stared.