Yuuji and I ran back to the area where Sukuna first took over. The two girls I killed had said Geto was waiting in that area, and now that I had fought with Sukuna and spoke to Yuuji, I realized my purpose had changed.

This was about so much more than saving Satoru.

We raced through the buildings and corridors, making our way lower and lower into the subway connections.

I knew we were headed in the right direction because the air became increasingly more dense with the weight of cursed energy.

As we turned a sharp corner, my entire body came to an abrupt stop, refusing to continue as I focused in on the scene before me.

"Nanami!!!" I shrieked from the top of my lungs as the stitched up cursed spirit began to reach for Nanami's burnt and beaten body.

It felt as though my soul left me, my body reacting completely on its own. I was acting purely out of instinct as I used my darkness to grab ahold of Nanami, pulling him towards me before the cursed spirit was able to make contact.

Nanami's body shot through the air towards me and Yuuji, and as he approached closer, I grabbed him with my arms.

I immediately dropped to the ground as I held onto him for dear life. Yuuji towered above us, his face twisted up with just as much torture and pain as mine.

"Nanami," I cried out as I pushed his hair out of his face, observing the scars and burns. He was burnt to practically nothing on the left side of his body. "P-please Nanami. Please. I can't lose you."

He forced a small smile as he looked up at me, "Y/n. You're here."

The cursed spirit let out a proud laugh and I looked up to see him watching us with a beaming smile.

"Yuuji," I looked up at my first year as I held tighter to my best friend, my eyes pleading and desperate.

He nodded as his face became menacing, "I'll handle it, Y/n-sensei."

Yuuji took off without hesitation, immediately engaging in a battle with the special grade cursed spirit. After watching him land his first few hits, I returned my attention back to Nanami.

"I'm sorry I won't be able to be there on your special day," he huffed out, barely even audible.

"You'll be there Nanami. Don't you dare talk like that. You're not going anywhere," I ripped off my mask as it became soaked in tears.

"But I'm so tired, Y/n. I'm just so tired... I've done enough, haven't I?"

I tried to keep my voice even and calm as I held his head on my lap, "You've done more than enough, Nanami. So rest as you need, but please. Please don't go to sleep."

"You need to help Itadori."

I shook my head softly, "He'll be fine. You've trained him so well."

"I-it hurts. It hurts so much."

"Let me help," I whispered as I leaned down and kissed his head. I sent him a memory of us at the beach with Satoru and the first years.

I don't know if there was a time I saw Nanami happier than on that afternoon. He smiled the whole time as he read his book, sipping on various drinks throughout the day.

Even once we left, he mentioned how much he wished it wouldn't have ended. And as we sat here in this subway, maybe the flicker of something so joyous would give him a reason to push through.

Or, at the very least, he would pass with a memory of happiness on his mind.

"That day was so nice," he smiled at me. "Thank you."

"I don't want a world without you, Nanami," I muttered, watching as he slowly began to fade. Nanami was my family. My brother. I couldn't picture going on without him. I couldn't lose him tonight.

"We'll see each other again, Y/n. Thank you for making sure I wasn't alone."

"Nanami, I love you so much."

"I love you too. You are part of what made this world so worthwhile."

"Nanami," I muttered through tears. "Please."

"Take care of them. You have to protect them, and make sure they all live to see tomorrow..." his eyes began to flutter shut, his breath dangerously slow. "You've got it from here."

My heart broke into a thousand pieces as I watched him take his last breath, his body relaxing and going limp in my arms.

I closed my eyes, letting the tears flow out. I had never felt more defeated and alone. I clenched my jaw shut as I felt it began to tremble. I just sat there, unable to even comprehend all that had happened in the last 4 hours.

What was even the point to all of this?

My eyes snapped open as it finally hit me that I was holding the lifeless body of my best friend. I pushed myself up and ran away from his body, immediately heaving and throwing up onto the ground.

I wiped my mouth with the tattered sleeve of my shirt as I stood tall. I was filled with an unmatched anger, but not the kind that sent me on a rampage.

It was the type of anger that weaved into every fiber of my being, silently and patiently waiting to reveal itself.

It wasn't the kind of rage that consumed me. It was kind of wrath that etched itself into my identity, carving its marks on the walls of my very soul.

The kind that would never subside, not until the moment I breathed my last breath. A hell flame that would never be quenched.

I slowly walked through the underground tunnels until I reached the spot right below where the fighting ensued.

I could feel their presence above me. I didn't know who all was there, but I knew it wasn't just Yuuji and the cursed spirit anymore.

I slumped up the stairs, my head hanging low. My body fighting to even stay upright. I wasn't hurt physically, not even in the slightest.

In fact, with the amount of attacks I had engaged in tonight, my body was surprisingly unharmed. All of the blood that splattered across me, but not a single drop of it was mine.

No, it wasn't my flesh that was exhausted, but every other part, reminding me that our souls are so much heavier than our bodies ever could be.

My eyes glazed over Geto as I made my way above ground. Finally. It was finally him.

I walked right through the crowd of sorcerers, ignoring their gawking stares. Never once did I let my eyes leave the curse user, afraid that he'd disappear again if I let him out of my sight.

I was filled with fear the last time we met. When he showed up unannounced at the place more sacred to me in this life than any other, the place where I met the love of my life, I had been so overwhelmed.

That shitty little tea house.

But as we stood here, in the damage and aftermath of Sukuna's domain, we were on a completely different playing field. One where I was now in charge. This was my spiderweb he was trapped in.

"Y/n. Nice of you to join us," Geto smirked. "You missed my announcement of the new world I plan to create. Would you like to hear?"

My eyes glossed over as he spoke. Whatever he was planning didn't matter anymore.

Even if he had consumed the special grade. Even if he had achieved Maximum Uzumkai. Even if he weakened Tengen's barrier. Even if everything had been perfectly laid out for him to end the world.

None of it mattered anymore.

He should enjoy this little monologue while he can, because he'd be dying here tonight. One way or another.

"And the key to it all," he continued. "This," he pulled out a small box covered in eyes.

The prison realm. Now that he confirmed that he had Satoru here with him, I would be able to make my next move.

The moments and words of tonight began to race through my head.

Protect them.

Take care of them.

Make sure they all see tomorrow.

The daughter of Kagutsuchi.

Protect the Sato clan.

Restore the Sato clan.

Retribution.

Glory.

But everyone has their own version of the truth, their own version of this history.

I know my purpose.