Fragments of Us (Megumi Fushiguro)

CHAPTER 24

Megumi jolted awake, disoriented by the sterile white of the hospital room. The events of the night before rushed back to him, and he sprang up, looking around frantically.

"Y/N!" he gasped, voice choked with panic. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, determined to find her, but strong hands held him back.

"Megumi, calm down," Gojo's voice was unusually serious as he placed a hand on Megumi's shoulder, gently but firmly keeping him in place. Shoko was beside him, her face lined with concern.

"Where is she?" Megumi demanded, struggling against them. "We have to bring her back! We promised her!"

Yuji and Nobara walked in, their expressions equally troubled. "We know, Megumi," Yuji said, his voice soft. "We want to get her back too."

Gojo's grip tightened. "Listen," he said, his usual teasing tone absent. "Her people found out she's here... under our protection. Last night, they launched a full-on attack."

Megumi's fists clenched, his heart pounding as he looked at Gojo. "Then let's go get her."

"They didn't come here for her," Gojo said, exhaling. "They came to make sure we know what they're capable of if we try to keep her."

Gojo's voice softened as he pointed out the window, where the edges of the city bore signs of destruction, charred buildings and crumbling walls in the distance. "They're using a blood curse that only exists to kill."

"Her own people did this..." Nobara muttered, horror flashing across her face. "And they're coming after her?"

Gojo nodded. "Because she's their last princess. They're desperate—she's the only one with the blood to heal, to rule. They want her as their Empress."

Megumi's expression hardened. "Then we're getting her back. I don't care what they want."

Yuji and Nobara stepped forward, expressions fierce with determination. "We promised her," Yuji said firmly, "and we're going to keep that promise."

Gojo's eyes softened, and he grinned, breaking the tension with a familiar smile. "Ah, young love. You kids are something else." He chuckled, his familiar playful tone returning. "Alright, let's go raise some hell."

In a lavish, dimly lit chamber draped in regal fabrics and cold silver, Y/N sat alone on a throne-like chair, her gaze icy. She had already been told what they expected of her: she would be their savior, their queen, their weapon.

She stared daggers at every figure in the room. Their desperate hunger for power, for her blood, showed in their sycophantic, reverent gazes, and it made her stomach twist in disgust. She knew why they wanted her—they didn't care about her. They needed her blood, and the healing powers it held.

"You can't run from us, my princess." One of the men dared to step forward, attempting a smile. "We can always find you. You belong with us."

Her red eyes glowed dangerously, and the faint flicker of her energy surged, crackling around her. She smiled, a thin, mirthless smile. "Oh?" Her voice was low, resonating in the space, and everyone visibly recoiled. "How dare you."

The air thickened with her power, pressing down on every person in the room. Her presence was overwhelming, suffocating, and her aura alone had them trembling. The room stilled, filled only with the sound of their shallow breaths.

Her voice dripped with contempt. "You treated me like an animal," she said, stepping forward, her steps slow and deliberate. "And now you dare come to me, acting as if I owe you my loyalty."

They cowered before her, heads bowed as they fell to their knees, terrified of meeting her gaze. "Your Majesty... please..."

With every step, her presence grew darker, the weight of her energy pressing down on them with increasing force. Her own blood began to surge, gathering in thin, sharp threads that whipped and twisted around her, glowing with a deadly crimson.

She stopped in front of one of them, her red eyes burning as she met his gaze. "You think you can force me to obey? You've mistaken me for someone you can control."

Without warning, a blade-like tendril of her blood struck, slicing through his armor and pinning him to the wall. His face went pale, his voice stuttering in fear.

"Try my patience again," she warned, her voice a deadly whisper. Her gaze swept over the others, who couldn't even look up, pressed low against the floor, barely able to breathe under the weight of her power. She allowed a brief, dangerous smile to cross her lips. "You'll wish you'd never tried."

Back in the human realm, Gojo, Megumi, Yuji, and Nobara prepared to confront her captors. As they stepped into the portal that would take them to her, Gojo looked over his shoulder at Megumi, his expression surprisingly solemn.

"You ready, kid?" Gojo asked, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Megumi clenched his fists, nodding. "I'm bringing her back."

With that, they stepped forward, into the darkness.