Fragments of Us (Megumi Fushiguro)

CHAPTER 29

Yuji and Nobara stood in the doorway, frozen, their eyes wide in utter disbelief. Then, as if the spell broke, they both rushed forward, wrapping Y/N in a fierce hug, tears streaming down their faces.

"Y/N!" Nobara sobbed, burying her face into Y/N's shoulder. "We thought... we thought you were gone!"

"Yeah, we were about to set up a shrine for you!" Yuji sniffled dramatically, hugging her just as tightly.

Y/N laughed, her hand gently patting their backs. "Aw, you guys, I'm right here! See?" She lifted a hand and gave them a little wave, her smile lighting up her face.

Shoko and Gojo watched from the door, their faces initially slack with shock before Gojo broke into a grin. "Wow, Y/N. You really know how to play dead," he teased, flashing her a cheeky smile. "Should I be worried you're just going to disappear again?"

Y/N laughed, her gaze flitting back to Megumi, who hadn't moved an inch from her side, his hand still entwined with hers. He looked at her with that soft, almost reverent smile, his eyes glistening with relief and love.

Megumi cleared his throat, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I... really thought you were gone." His hand tightened around hers, grounding himself in her warmth.

Y/N's gaze softened. "Honestly, I thought I was too. But something—or someone—kept pulling me back, urging me to stay. I felt trapped... like I wasn't supposed to be there." She shivered slightly, the memory still fresh, and he immediately pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.

"Stop talking like that," he whispered, his voice low and full of intensity. "No more of this... death talk. You're here, and that's all that matters."

As the room filled with laughter and light banter, Panda, Maki, and Inumaki joined the group. They all stopped short, blinking as they took in Y/N sitting there, alive, warm, and smiling.

"Y/N!" Panda bounded forward, wrapping her in a surprisingly gentle hug for someone his size. "I can't believe it! I was ready to turn into a sobbing mess!"

"Oi, back off, Panda," Nobara protested playfully. "We've got dibs on hugging her first!"

Laughter filled the room as they all took turns embracing her, overwhelmed with the joy of her return. Even Shoko, who was normally calm, was blinking suspiciously quickly.

But then Shoko stepped forward, smiling softly. "Y/N, you need rest. We don't want you disappearing again just because you're too stubborn to take care of yourself."

The group finally agreed, reluctantly filing out one by one, each giving her a lingering glance before leaving. When only Megumi remained, he sat beside her, gazing at her with an intensity that made her heart skip.

"Megumi?" she whispered, a bit uncertain.

He simply took her hands in his own, his touch impossibly gentle. He studied her features, his gaze lingering on her cheeks, her hair, the curve of her ear, as if he were memorizing every little detail.

"You scared me," he murmured, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I thought... I thought I'd lost you. I don't ever want to feel that again."

She smiled softly, her heart swelling at his words. "I'm here now, aren't I? And I'm not planning on going anywhere."

A spark of amusement flickered in his eyes as he leaned closer, his forehead nearly touching hers. "Good," he whispered, "because if you tried, I'd just bring you back."

She laughed, leaning into his touch. "You're getting possessive, Megumi," she teased.

He chuckled, his face softening. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

His eyes held hers, full of affection and relief, and in a slow, tender movement, he bent down, pressing a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. The warmth of his affection filled her to her core, and she found herself melting at the sweetness of it.

Unable to resist, she teased him gently. "You're being unusually affectionate, Megumi. Are you trying to make me blush?"

"Maybe," he murmured with a hint of a smirk, his thumb brushing along her cheek. Then, with his eyes locked onto hers, he slowly closed the distance, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss so soft and warm that it made her feel like she was floating.

They pulled back slowly, both of them slightly breathless, but he kept her close, his gaze unwavering. "You don't get to scare me like that again, okay?"

Her heart fluttered, and she smiled, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from his face. "I promise."

He finally relaxed, his hand moving from her cheek to rest over her heart, feeling its steady beat. "Good. Because I'd like to keep you around for a very, very long time."