𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 & 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 | 𝐉𝐮𝐣𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐮 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧

𝟷𝟷| ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴄᴇ

(Y/n)'s chest rose and fell with steady breaths as she lowered the blade, feeling the rush of energy fade into the stillness of the aftermath. The curse's remnants lingered in the air, slowly disintegrating, but her thoughts were elsewhere. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to savor the small victory, the warmth of Geto's words lifting her spirits.

Gojo clapped his hands, a grin plastered on his face. "Not bad for a first go! You didn't even need me to jump in and save you."

"Yeah, well, the curse wasn't exactly strong," Nobara added, crossing her arms. "But still, better than I expected." It was a half-compliment, but coming from her, (Y/n) took it as a win.

Megumi gave her a nod, not saying much but offering silent approval.

(Y/n) smiled softly, though inside, she could feel the familiar weight of her uncontrolled energy. The burst of power she had used had been small, but even now, there was a tug at the back of her mind, reminding her of the risk earlier.

Geto stepped closer, his presence calm and reassuring. "Don't worry about perfecting it all at once," he said, sensing her unease. "You've taken a big step today. But remember, you'll have to learn how to harness your energy without letting it consume you."

(Y/n) nodded, her fingers tightening around the cursed weapon.

Gojo's voice cut through her thoughts. "Alright, time to wrap things up here. You've earned a break." He flashed a smile and waved them all off. "And maybe some water?"

___
As (Y/n) walked back to the dorms with the others, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She felt the familiar drain that followed after using her energy, her limbs growing heavier with each step. Her mind buzzed, replaying the battle over and over, the flicker of energy that she had barely controlled still fresh in her memory.

You did it, she reminded herself. But it was close... too close.

The group eventually split off, each heading to their own rooms. (Y/n) walked alone down a quiet hallway toward her dorm room, her senses dulling from fatigue. She rubbed her temples, hoping to fend off the creeping headache that followed after using too much energy.

Then, she felt a sudden shift. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, a faint prickling at the back of her neck. Maybe it was just the aftermath of using her energy, but something felt wrong.

As she pushed open her door and stepped into the room, a low, unfamiliar voice brushed against her consciousness, soft but unsettling.

"Do you really think you can control it?"

(Y/n) froze mid-step, her breath hitching. She glanced around the empty room, heart pounding. "Who's there?" she called out.

There was no response—just the eerie quiet of the room settling around her. For a moment, she thought she had imagined it, just her tired mind playing tricks on her. But then, the voice returned, almost a whisper, but dripping with something darker. "That power... it's not yours to command. Not yet."

(Y/n) stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room. She didn't recognize the voice, but there was something unnervingly familiar about the way it seemed to coil around her thoughts, like a shadow in the corners of her mind.

"Who are you?" she asked, her tone sharper this time, mixed with fear and frustration.

A low chuckle echoed in response, sending a shiver down her spine. "You'll know soon enough," the voice continued. "But don't be too eager. The power you're so desperately clinging to... it will devour you if you aren't careful."