Fragments of Us (Megumi Fushiguro)

CHAPTER 19

In the dim glow of the hospital room, Megumi sat up straighter, his attention solely on Y/N as her expression shifted. She was crying again, her face twisted with fear and sadness as she murmured softly in her sleep. Each soft whimper tugged at his heart, but with the barrier in place, all he could do was watch, helpless.

"Y/N," he called gently, his voice laced with concern. "It's okay, I'm here... please, wake up."

But his words couldn't reach her. She continued to writhe slightly, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her closed lids as if trapped in a nightmare. Megumi clenched his fists, feeling the distance more acutely than ever. Just as he was about to call her name again, the door swung open, and Gojo entered, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a quiet seriousness.

"Sensei," Megumi said urgently, standing up. "She's... she's not okay. Can't you lower the barrier for just a second?"

Gojo shook his head, his gaze sharp. "Her scent is still too potent. Trust me, you don't want the kind of attention it could bring if I lower this now. I know it's hard, Megumi, but she's safer this way."

Megumi's jaw tightened, his eyes darting back to Y/N as her whimpers grew louder. Then, with an unnatural quickness, her eyes flew open, glowing an eerie, bright red. The gentleness that was usually there was gone, replaced by an intense and unsettling glare directed straight at them.

Gojo's eyes narrowed, and he moved slightly in front of Megumi, his posture cautious. "Y/N?" he asked carefully.

But there was no recognition in her gaze. Instead, her lips parted, her voice low and haunting. "You... you broke your promise."

Megumi felt a chill down his spine. "Promise? What promise?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. But her eyes bore into him, accusingly.

"Why didn't you stay? Why did you leave me?" she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with a strange anger and hurt. "I'm alone... all alone."

Gojo tensed, his usually calm demeanor cracking for a moment. "Megumi, don't engage too much. This isn't her right now."

Megumi ignored him, stepping closer to the barrier despite the invisible force pushing him back. "Y/N, I haven't left you. I'm right here, okay? You're not alone."

But Y/N's expression only grew darker, a faint smirk twisting her lips. "Right here? You say that now, but you'll leave like everyone else." Her voice lowered, bitter and almost taunting. "Maybe it's better if I end it myself. Save everyone the trouble."

At her words, Megumi's heart raced with alarm, his mind refusing to accept what he was hearing. He took another step forward, his hand pressed firmly against the barrier as though he could will it down by sheer determination alone.

"Y/N!" he pleaded, desperation clear in his voice. "You're stronger than this. Don't talk like that... you have us, you have me."

But her eyes only narrowed, a dangerous light glinting within. "Lies. You can't save me," she muttered, and the air around them grew heavy, a dark aura beginning to pulse from her. It felt like a storm, brooding and ready to strike, and Megumi could only watch helplessly, his hands clenching against the barrier.

Gojo, sensing the shift, raised a hand, his expression serious. "Y/N," he said, his voice stern but calm. "This darkness... it doesn't control you. You're stronger than this."

For a moment, her expression softened, a flicker of confusion passing over her face as if she was struggling to comprehend where she was. But then the darkness surged again, and she looked at Megumi, her red eyes shining with something unreadable.

"If you're really here, Megumi..." Her voice wavered, both vulnerable and dangerous. "Promise you won't leave me again."

Megumi swallowed, his gaze never leaving hers. "I promise. No matter what, I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here with you."

For a second, it felt like she understood, like the Y/N he knew was reaching through the fog clouding her mind. Her hand slowly reached out, pressing against the invisible wall of the barrier, her fingers mere inches from his own.

"I'm scared," she whispered, her voice a mix of her own and something foreign. "Please... don't let me go."

Megumi nodded, pressing his hand to hers, even with the barrier between them. "I won't. I'm right here. And whatever happens, we'll face it together. Just... stay with me, Y/N. Don't give in to this."

In that moment, the dark aura began to fade, her eyes slowly losing their glow until they returned to the familiar warmth he knew. She blinked, the intensity in her gaze softening as her body seemed to relax, and the tension in the room dissipated.

Y/N's shoulders slumped, and she took a deep, shaky breath as she looked around, disoriented. "Megumi?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He let out a sigh of relief, nodding. "Yeah, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Gojo, satisfied that the danger had passed, lowered his hand, giving them a small, approving nod. "Looks like you reached her, Megumi," he murmured. Then, with a gentle smile, he added, "Now, get some rest, Y/N. You're safe here. We'll make sure of it."

Y/N gave a weak nod, her eyes still locked on Megumi as he settled into his chair beside her bed. Despite the barrier, he felt closer to her than ever, his hand resting against the invisible shield that separated them, yet comforted by the fact that she could sense his presence.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, but full of relief.

Megumi's lips curved into a soft smile. "Anytime. I'll always be here, Y/N."