𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭, 𝐢'𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝

┌──── ∘°❉°∘ ────┐

𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭, 𝐢'𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝

└──── °∘❉∘° ────┘

𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐈𝐗

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--MISA'S HEART PUNDED AS SHE STARED AT THE CREATURE WRITHING AGAINST HER ICE, its distorted, unnatural form twitching in a way that made her stomach churn. The others were shouting behind her—Nobara yelling for her to reinforce the ice, Yuji calling out his next move, and Megumi directing his shikigami—but their voices felt distant, muffled under the weight of her own thoughts.

She couldn't ignore it anymore. The laughter, the crying, the desperate words the creature spoke—it all felt too deliberate, too human. Her mind raced as she struggled with the decision she already knew she was going to make.

What if it really is a child? What if this thing is trapped in its own body, screaming for help, and I'm just standing here treating it like another curse?

The creature's distorted voice broke through her spiraling thoughts.

"Help... me..." it wailed, its tone warping between sobbing and hysterical laughter. Its words struck her like a physical blow, and her chest tightened with a suffocating weight. She wanted to believe it was lying, that it was just a trick, but doubt clawed at her, refusing to let go.

"Misa, what are you doing?" Megumi shouted, his voice sharp as he noticed her faltering. "Hold it down! Don't stop now!"

She ignored him. Her cursed energy, which had been flaring around her moments ago, flickered and faded as she dropped her hands to her sides. The frost binding the creature began to melt away, the jagged ice cracking and splintering into harmless shards.

"Misa, what the hell?!" Nobara screamed, her hammer poised mid-swing. "Are you insane?!"

Yuji ran up to her, his voice desperate. "Misa, don't—what are you doing? Get out of the way!"

But Misa stepped forward instead, her body blocking their line of attack. She turned slightly, her expression unreadable as she raised a hand to stop them.

"Don't," she said, her voice calm but laced with something heavy, something uncertain. "Don't attack it."

"What are you talking about?!" Megumi yelled, his frustration clear. "It's a curse! Get out of the way before it kills you!"

Misa didn't answer. Her heart raced in her chest, her instincts screaming at her to fight or run, but she forced herself to stay still. The creature's laughter grew louder, its movements more frantic as it broke free of the last remnants of her ice.

The distorted voice came again, and this time it felt like it was speaking directly to her. "Help... me... Please..."

Misa clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. If I'm wrong... if this thing really is just a curse... She couldn't finish the thought, her mind refusing to imagine the consequences.

"Misa, move!" Yuji shouted, his voice raw with urgency.

But she didn't move. She planted her feet firmly on the ground, her gaze locked on the creature as it lunged toward her. Its speed was blinding, its clawed hands reaching out—but she didn't flinch. She didn't raise her hands, didn't summon her cursed energy. She stood her ground.

"MISA!" Nobara's scream echoed through the clearing, but it was too late.

The creature's clawed hand grabbed her by the collar of her uniform, its grip like iron as it yanked her forward with impossible strength. Before anyone could react, it turned and bolted, dragging her with it as it tore through the forest at a breakneck speed.

The world became a blur of trees and shadows as Misa struggled to breathe, the collar of her uniform digging into her throat. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty, but amidst the chaos, one thought stood out, clear and heavy.

I have to know.

Behind her, she could hear the shouts of the others—Yuji, Nobara, Megumi—all calling her name as they sprinted after her. But their voices faded into the distance as the creature carried her deeper into the forest, its distorted laughter and sobbing ringing in her ears.

Misa clenched her jaw, her hands gripping the creature's wrist as she tried to steady herself. The cursed energy radiating from it was overwhelming, suffocating, but she forced herself to stay calm.

Misa gritted her teeth as the cursed creature tore through the forest, dragging her along with terrifying speed. The sharp wind stung her face, and the oppressive cursed energy radiating from the thing clawed at her senses. She could barely think, the sheer intensity of it overwhelming every fiber of her being.

But then, amidst the chaos, she found her moment. The creature slowed for just a fraction of a second to adjust its grip, and Misa acted. With a surge of determination, she reached up and planted her hand firmly on its forehead, her cursed energy flaring as frost spread from her palm.

The creature let out an unearthly screech, its movements jerking and spasming as the frost spread through its body. Misa focused all her energy into the point of contact, her Frost Dominion surging in a way she'd never experienced before. The cold wasn't just external—it pierced into the very core of the cursed energy, freezing it from the inside out.

The creature thrashed violently, and in one final desperate attempt to fight back, its claws lashed out, raking across her cheek. Misa winced as a sharp, burning pain flared on her skin, but she didn't let go. She pushed harder, forcing the cursed energy to dissipate under her control.

And then, suddenly, it was gone.

The oppressive weight in the air lifted, and the creature stumbled, its grip loosening as both it and Misa fell. They hit the muddy ground with a hard thud, rolling several times before coming to a stop. Misa lay there for a moment, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The cold mud clung to her clothes, and her cheek throbbed from the scratch, but she forced herself to ignore the pain.

Slowly, she sat up, her body aching from the fall. Her gaze snapped to the figure in front of her, her heart pounding as she prepared for it to attack again.

But it didn't move.

The oppressive cursed energy that had surrounded it was gone. The once-twisted figure was now just a small boy, his body trembling as he sat up in the mud. His wide, tear-filled eyes met hers, and his lower lip quivered as he began to cry.

Misa froze, her breath catching in her throat. It really was just a child... possessed by that curse. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, she couldn't bring herself to move.

The boy sobbed uncontrollably, his small hands clutching at the torn fabric of his shirt. Then, without warning, he crawled toward her and threw his arms around her, burying his face against her chest. His cries grew louder, raw and full of pain, as if releasing everything he had been holding inside.

Misa hesitated for a split second, the shock of the moment still settling in. Then she slowly wrapped her arms around the boy, pulling him close as she rested her chin on top of his head. Her cheek stung sharply with every movement, but she didn't care. All that mattered now was comforting him.

"It's okay," she whispered softly, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to keep herself steady. "You're safe now. It's over."

The boy's small hands clung tightly to her jacket, his body shaking with every sob. "I'm sorry," The boy spoke, sniffling. Misa tightened her hold on him, ignoring the mud and the pain as she focused on the fragile, trembling child in her arms.

"You're okay," she murmured again, her voice soothing. "I've got you. You're going to be okay."

The forest around them seemed to grow quieter, the oppressive atmosphere replaced with an eerie stillness. For the first time since they'd entered the cursed woods, the air felt lighter, as if the darkness that had plagued it had finally been lifted.

But Misa's mind was far from calm. As she held the crying child close, she couldn't stop the flood of thoughts rushing through her. How many more like him have suffered because of curses? How many more times will this happen before it stops?

The boy's cries slowly began to subside, but he didn't let go of her. And Misa didn't move either, sitting there in the muddy clearing, holding him close as she whispered reassurances into the quiet, cursed forest.

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--The group trudged through the forest, the oppressive atmosphere now replaced by an eerie quiet. The boy walked between Misa and Yuji, his small hand tightly gripping Misa's as if afraid to let go. His other hand clung to the edge of Yuji's shirt, the boy's wide eyes scanning their surroundings nervously.

"Okay, so," Yuji said, crouching slightly to meet the boy's eye level as they walked. "What's your name, buddy?"

The boy hesitated, glancing up at Misa for reassurance. She gave him a small, encouraging smile. "It's okay," she said softly. "You can tell us."

"Riku," the boy whispered, his voice barely audible. "My name's Riku."

"That's a cool name," Yuji said with a grin, his tone warm and friendly. "Riku. Sounds like the name of a superhero."

The boy blinked up at him, his lips twitching into the faintest hint of a smile. "Really?"

"Totally," Yuji said, nodding enthusiastically. "I mean, you survived all that scary stuff back there. That's pretty heroic, don't you think?"

Riku's small smile grew a little wider, and he giggled softly. "Maybe..."

Misa couldn't help but glance at Yuji, her chest tightening slightly as she watched him effortlessly coax laughter out of the boy. There was something about the way he spoke—so genuine, so full of warmth—that made her heart flutter. How does he do that? she wondered, feeling her cheeks heat slightly.

"So, Riku," Yuji continued, his tone light and conversational. "Do you know where your parents are? Or where you were before all... this happened?"

The boy's smile faltered, and his gaze dropped to the ground. "I... I don't know," he admitted, his voice small. "I was... playing in the woods. And then... and then everything went dark."

Misa tightened her grip on his hand, her heart aching at the fear in his voice. "We're going to find them," she said gently. "I promise. You're not alone anymore."

Riku nodded slowly, his grip on her hand tightening in return. Yuji shot her a quick glance, his own expression softening at the way she comforted the boy. He gave her a small, reassuring smile before turning back to Riku.

Ahead of them, Nobara and Megumi walked side by side, the map from the information center spread out between them.

"You're reading it wrong," Nobara said flatly, pointing at the paper. "We should've turned left back there."

"No, you're reading it wrong," Megumi replied, his tone calm but firm. "The map says to follow this path."

"That's not a path!" Nobara argued, gesturing behind them. "It's a bunch of trees!"

"It's a forest," Megumi deadpanned. "Everything is trees."

"Oh, so you admit you have no idea where you're going?" Nobara shot back, crossing her arms.

"I'm following the map," Megumi said, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Unlike you, who's just making wild guesses."

"Wild guesses?" Nobara repeated, glaring at him. "I have instincts, thank you very much."

"Your instincts got us lost in the mall last month," Megumi muttered under his breath.

"Are you still bringing that up?!" Nobara shouted, her voice rising an octave. "That was one time!"

Yuji and Misa exchanged amused glances, both of them stifling laughter as Riku tilted his head curiously at the bickering pair ahead of them.

"Do they always argue like that?" Riku asked softly, looking up at Yuji.

"Pretty much," Yuji said with a chuckle. "But don't worry—it's how they show they care."

Misa rolled her eyes playfully. "It's mostly just how Nobara shows she's stubborn."

"Hey!" Nobara called over her shoulder, glaring back at them. "I heard that!"

"Good!" Misa shot back, smirking. "It wasn't a secret!"

Riku giggled again, the sound soft but genuine, and Misa couldn't help but glance at him with a smile. The boy was still visibly shaken, but every small laugh or smile he gave felt like a tiny victory.

Yuji leaned down slightly, grinning at Riku. "See? Told you you'd fit in with us."

Riku looked up at him, his smile growing as he clutched Yuji's shirt a little tighter. "You're funny."

Yuji gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Funny? That's the highest compliment I've ever received. Thank you, Riku. You've officially made my day."

Misa shook her head, laughing softly. "Don't inflate his ego too much, Riku. He's already impossible to deal with."

"I resent that," Yuji said, feigning offense. He looked at Riku with an exaggerated pout. "See what I have to deal with?"

Riku giggled again, and Misa's heart swelled at the sound. She glanced at Yuji out of the corner of her eye, her thoughts wandering as they walked. How does he do it? How does he make everything feel so... light? Even after all of this?

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly turned her attention back to Riku, brushing the thought away. For now, she had a promise to keep—and nothing else mattered.

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--Riku squealed with laughter as Yuji gave him a piggyback ride, the boy's small arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders. Yuji bounced slightly as he walked, pretending to stagger dramatically.

"Whoa, Riku, you're so heavy!" Yuji joked, grinning up at the giggling boy. "What do they feed you? Rocks?"

"I'm not heavy!" Riku protested, his laughter bubbling over. "You're just weak!"

"Weak?" Yuji gasped, pretending to be offended. "Oh, you're asking for it now!" He started jogging in circles, causing Riku to laugh even harder.

"Slow down, Itadori," Nobara called over her shoulder, glancing back at them with a smirk. "If you trip and fall, you'll be carrying both him and your broken dignity."

"Bold of you to assume I have dignity to begin with!" Yuji shot back, sticking his tongue out at her.

Misa walked a few paces behind them, her arms folded loosely over her chest as she watched Yuji with the boy. She tried to keep her focus on the task at hand—finding the nearest trail, getting Riku back to safety—but her mind kept wandering.

The way Yuji laughed so freely, even after everything they'd been through today, was so... him. His warmth, his energy, the way he made people feel at ease—it was something she'd always admired. But watching him now, the way he effortlessly comforted Riku and turned such a tense, terrifying situation into something light, she felt her chest tighten.

She glanced at him again, catching the way he smiled over his shoulder at Riku, his eyes crinkling with genuine joy. The way he cared for the boy, the way he always tried to make people laugh, even at his own expense... it made her heart flutter in a way she wasn't prepared for.

Misa clenched her fists slightly, trying to snap herself out of it. What is wrong with me? she thought, forcing her gaze away from him. He's just being his usual, kind self. This isn't new. Why am I acting like this?

But no matter how much she tried to shake it off, the feeling lingered. It wasn't just admiration anymore—it was something deeper, something that made her stomach twist and her chest ache all at once.

"Hey, Misa!" Yuji called, grinning back at her as he slowed his pace. "What's with the serious face? You're missing all the fun back here!"

She blinked, startled, and quickly mustered a smirk. "Just making sure you don't trip and break your neck, Itadori."

Yuji laughed, adjusting Riku on his back. "Don't worry, I've got this. Riku's keeping me in line, right, buddy?"

"Right!" Riku said confidently, giggling again.

Misa couldn't help but smile at the two of them, but her thoughts kept spiraling. This is bad, she thought, her heart thudding in her chest. This is so, so bad.

She tried not to realize it, but she might've seen Yuji in a different light. She might... have... feelings for him.

dammit, she closed her eyes briefly as the weight of the realization hit her. She was screwed.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚