If he listened closely, he could almost recall the tune of her laughter ringing in his ears like a soft lullaby that whispered in the autumn wind under the hinoki trees one evening. The rustling of the leaves and decaying fallen branches that crunched under their feet as they walked through the forest towards their designated spot just beyond reach. He promised to show her his newfound skills of bending fire to his will once they got there. "You must be patient," he told her as his eyes gazed around the area for any potential cursed spirits that resided within the shadows. "I can't accidentally set the whole forest on fire if I show you now, I'm still practicing the craft." When he didn't hear a usual quick response from her, his head shifted back in front of him. His posture went rigid when she wasn't in sight. Frantically looking from side to side, he called out her name, but the only answer was the echo of his voice. When did it get dark? Where is she? Did they take her? Is it a cursed spirit he didn't register in time? That couldn't be. He was always cautious, always on alert. Then he hears it. Her voice. Air is knocked out of his lungs with each stomp of his feet as he dashes through the trees. But the ground is no longer cushioned with moss and damp soil. He hears the rhythmic splashing of water resounding out as the hinoki trees are slowly being swallowed in the dark. He looks down and sees that he's in a sea of red, soaking up to his ankles. The rustic smell of iron tickling his nose but it doesn't bother him. Strangely, it never did. But he focuses back up ahead and he's dashing now, eyes blown wide, and his heart is pounding in his ears like a marching band as he sees her floating within the pool of blood. He screams her name and reaches a hand out, praying to reach her, but his vision is slipping. No. No. No. And then, he wakes up. - - - Oh, how long he's waited to be awakened. Every inch of his body is shaking from the adrenaline as he fights against this Sorcerer. Granted, his body is still not as formidable as one of his fingers consumed is only a small fraction of his power, but he will stop at nothing. Especially not now. Debris and dust falls and floats around them from one destruction to another on the school building. Gojo keeps a safe distance on the ground, careful not to let the King of Curses get close to his student, Megumi. The deranged cackle from Sukuna makes him go still for a moment, but he knows he has the upper hand. Gojo feels a pulse through him, almost an electric tap as he feels that she is close. She must be running her way over. He knows he doesn't need her help but if she can take Megumi to safety, then all the better. Sukuna notices that Gojo is stalling, and his eye ticks in frustration. But then he hears the steps far off in the distance, and the scent that clearly indicates a woman. "Ah, I see." He grins, flexing his fingers as he takes a step back to ready himself. "Did you really think you could corner me from behind? Foolishness." Megumi shouts as Sukuna turns on his heel, dashing and leaping to the other side of the building where she is coming, using his Divine Dogs to chase after him. But Sukuna pays them no mind. He's dead set on killing every Sorcerer that dares to come close. He sees a flicker of a figure jumping towards him and reaches a claw out as he laughs maniacally. "Foolish girl, have you no idea who you're—" Sukuna's words are stuck in his throat when his eyes look over the woman in the air. His breath hitches and his heart is hammering in his ears like a marching band as recognition strikes him. "You..." He breathes her name like a prayer on his tongue. I've finally found you.