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The Kingdom of the Wolves never had a peaceful time until the Great War ceased.
One of the Heros, from the prestigious family of Zen'in, ended the war with a supreme victory.
But Toji Zen'in wasn't a saint. Hero or not he was a human, while the Royal Family expected to have a good King, the young man was enamored by the lustful desires and slept with all the available maidens, so trying to have him settle down with one and start the new kingdom was a difficult task for the older members of the Royal Family.
They didn't know that, on one of his escapades before settling down with the current queen, he got a maiden pregnant in one of the farmer villages near the borders of the southern side of the land and the bastard child was his living copy.
The maiden didn't tell anyone about little Megumi's father. No.
She raised him alone, and she worked hard to raise him in a loving environment, even if the small village called her whore and other scandalous things.
Megumi Fushiguro was a loved child. He loved his mother very much and he didn't know about sadness.
Playing, at the sweet age of six, outside his mother's job place (a pub) his face lightened up as he saw his best friend in the whole world, Yuuji.
"You are late! You were supposed to take me to catch fireflies!", the black haired kid pouted, a small box hanging from his belt.
"Sorry. Grandpa woke up late and forgot I was going out with Megu", equipped with two small nets and a box a smaller kid with a radiant smile was trying to calm his friend. "Also big bro told me to bring you back at home as usual, he's an idiot".
The smaller boy grabbed the hand of the raven haired kid and led him to a small pond they used to play.
"Your brother is scary. I don't wanna. Besides, mommy told me to come back early, before the sun goes down", he grabbed one net and squeezed the hand of his friend.
They reached the pond, the woods were silent at that time of the afternoon. The fireflies were flying around, the children enjoyed their time laughing and running around.
After a while, they got tired. Running for the last firefly of the day, Yuuji tripped and fell, scratching his knee.
"Oww!"
"You alright?", the small kid ran towards his friend, worried. He grabbed a handkerchief (his mother gave it to him) and he wiped softly the dirt and blood. "Dummy, look where you are going".
"I'm okay just stings", little tears started to appear in the kid. "Can't get up, it hurts", the pink haired kid moved and sat in the ground.
"We should clean it, Mom always told me to get them clean or it will hurt more", the other one showed despair and not knowing what to do was starting to show. Trying to search in his little pockets for anything.
"Don't worry maybe just with the handkerchief will do", doing a kind of a tie in his knee and getting up, washing away the tears, smiled to the other boy "Look, Megu, I'm fine now".
Fushiguro looked behind him, signaling something.
"Sukuna", he said crying, running towards the older boy, "Yuuji got hurt!!"
The older one sighed and ruffled the black hair of the kid.
"I was sent to get you brats and I found you like this", he crouched in front of Yuuji, pinching his cheek.
"Owieeee".
"Tchh", he grabbed his lil' brother piggy back style, "let's go, babies. Both of you are crying".
"I'm not!!", whined Yuuji.
"Me neither! In fact, I did what Mom taught me! I cleaned the wound!", the raven haired kid stood proudly. Yuuji looked at him in awe.
Megumi was so smart.
Yuuji liked him a lot.
-
Megumi's mother wasn't around for most of the afternoon and night. When he reached the age around ten, he started helping one of the local farmers during the afternoons, when he was alone and his mom was working. The usual routine was to eat dinner with Yuuji's family, since he was there most of the time and her Mother really felt that they're the only family around she could rely on.
During work a certain day he overheard the boss talking to one of the adults.
"The castle is in chaos, the Queen is ill. That's why they are asking for more vegetables lately. If she dies, they won't have an heir".
"She couldn't get pregnant, right?"
"Since they married, I heard they tried but no avail".
Megumi thought to himself, with his knowledge (he liked to read, Yuuji's grandpa taught him) he knew a prince or princess would reign when the King or Queen died. He was a curious kid after all. If he could, he liked to work in a stable full of horses, cows or chickens, he liked animals.
"Megu!!", called Yuuji from behind the fence, "Are you coming tonight?"
"Yeah!", he smiled at him.
Yuuji was all dirty, he worked with a nearby rancher as a stable boy.
"You're so dirty, hahaha!", he got out a towel since he used it when he had days working out in the afternoon's sun. "Yuuji, everyone is talking about the chaos at the castle, they say we will get more work".
The pink haired boy was trying to clean some of the dirt and put the towel on his head, "Ah, yeah! Brother told me we should get another boy for the stable, since more ranches are asking us for more horses".
"Maybe I could work there too!"
"Yeah, you like animals after all".
-
They ate dinner that night. Yuuji and Megumi bathed together in the small pond they had in Yuuji's family home. They played along the bubbles and water droplets, feeling at peace.
"I'm so tired", groaned the pink haired kid as he reached the bed, face down.
"Yuuji, move. I wanna sleep too", the other kid shifted and made room for the black haired kid and they got comfy.
"Is your mom working late today?"
"Yes. Lately she sleeps more and more and I can't see her in the mornings… what if she got tired of me?", he rubbed his hands anxiously, "she doesn't smile at me like she used to do… I want to be a good kid".
"Megu, you are a good kid! You are super smart and hardworking. Maybe she is sick!?"
"How?"
"Uhm, I remember my grandma when she got sick she was always quiet, slept a lot and she didn't smile. I don't know".
"Me neither", he turned to face Yuuji that was on his side. "I just don't want her to hate me".
"I don't hate you, Gumi", he smiled at him, taking one hand on his.
"Yuuji…", he called with those thick eyelashes sparkling under the moonlight with unshed tears, "can you hug me?"
Yuuji hugged him with all the force a ten year old kid could have. His friend was sad and he didn't want him to be sad.
He kissed the top of his head.
-
Morning came and they played a little before going to their usual morning's jobs. They were trying to climb up trees since the little one liked to see all of the village from high places. Also, he loved to show his friend the morning sun.
"Megu, hurry up, Sir Sun is getting to the perfect place you will miss the view again", the wind was a little strong and pink hair was flowing so wildly that the boy looked like a baby bird with his new feathers.
"Stop saying Sir Sun, I feel you're copying me", he pouted trying to catch up, he was going up a little faster since the other kid was already waiting for him at a branch. "Yuu-chan, why are you so fast? I don't even remember when you got stronger than me!"
"Maybe, since the gramps at the ranch got me to do more work than you? Gimme your hand already, I can lift you faster", he reached for Fushiguro's tiny hands. Helping him to get on the branch and sit up.
The morning at the village was so bright, with the wild wind that day they could see clearly the movement of the clouds. Itadori didn't let go of his friend's hand at all. His eyes were fixed on him, he wasn't seeing the landscape anymore. His friend was growing up so fast, his raven hair was getting wilder than ever and his big eyes were getting prettiest than he remembered. His heart sometimes stopped when Itadori took Megumi's hand. But, the thought always vanished when he was brought back to reality and started their routine. The little time they had in the mornings before work, Itadori treasured so much, since the Queen's health got worse and they demanded more from their village.
"Hey, will we ever get out of the village?", shiny green eyes wandered to get his friend out of thoughts. "I feel like I want to explore the kingdom, Yuu-chan. I enjoy working here but I feel like I could do more".
"Your grandpa and Mom will come with me, right? Ah, maybe your brother too. But, I'm still scared of him, so until I get bigger than him maybe we could bring him in", he laughed at the idea of what his adventures could be.
"Megu, you really don't like being here?", something was going on with the small one, as he was excited to hear his wish of adventure. "I feel like I could lose you and stop being friends…"
"Don't say stupid things like that! Of course, I love being here with you and mom! I just want to see a new place with you! Idiot!", he felt angry at the reasoning of his friend. What an idiot!, he thought to himself, as he freed from the grip and fastly got down off the tree." Don't come after me! STUPID YUU-CHAN! "
Itadori was left on, his hand feeling cold and lonely. He only stared at his friend's back leaving him behind.
"Yo! Kiddo! Are you from around here?", Itadori looked down at the newcomer. A soldier. He had shiny armor and impressive leather belts with lots of things Itadori never saw before.
"Uhm, yeah?"
"Do you know if there is someone in this village with green eyes? It's an uncommon color after all".
Itadori doubted a little, but he remembered his grandpa said that he always needed to answer properly to the soldiers since they protected the kingdom. But still, he had a bad feeling about the man.
"Uh, I think there's a kid. I'm not sure".
"Ok. Thank you!", the soldier smiled at him and disappeared into the village.
He went to his house, still annoyed by his friend. He grabbed some fruit and resolved to pass to his house before work. Maybe he could say hi to Megumi's mother, at this hour she was in her home.
He walked towards the house of his friend and knocked on the door.
The woman opened the door and smiled at the boy.
"How are you, Yuuji! I haven't seen you lately! You are getting so tall!", she ruffled his hair.
"Thank you! I brought Megumi some fruit since he ran away from my house".
"He was so pissed, did you two fight?"
"..."
"Come here", she led him to his room, where an angry ball of blankets was in the corner of the bed, "Megumi, Yuuji is here to make peace, get out from there".
He hissed .
She took no shit from her kid, and dug around the blankets and took out the angry ball that was Megumi.
"I don't know what happened but you and Yuuji will forgive each other because he is kind enough to take care of you while I'm working. I'm waiting".
Megumi looked embarrassed and at the verge of tears. Yuuji offered him an apple he got from his house.
"I don't want to fight, Gumi".
The other kid hugged him tight, crying.
Megumi's mother smiled sweetly.
-
Megumi's mother had a bad feeling when she saw the soldiers at the pub. They had been watching her since she arrived at her work.
She got goosebumps on her skin.
-
Around three in the afternoon, Yuuji passed near where Megumi worked. He yelled for him, the kid greeting him cheerfully.
"Are you coming tonight to eat dinner?", it was a nice routine, doing this everyday.
"Of course. Hey…", Megumi looked troubled, "I saw soldiers around… I think they are searching for a criminal or something. Scary!"
"Yeah, I find it weird too… be safe, Gumi".
"You too!", Megumi smiled at him, waving a goodbye.
-
At dusk, Yuuji was in his home, helping his grandpa make dinner. He was expecting Megumi at any moment to take a bath together, eat and get to sleep.
Megumi never arrived, not even when the moon was high.
Sukuna walked with him to Megumi's home.
Maybe he got hurt at work. Or sick…
They found Megumi's mom crying her soul out in front of the door.
Sukuna moved Yuuji's at his back trying to block the view. It was chaotic. He knew something wrong happened and he was still the big brother.
"Where's him?", he helped the poor woman to stoop up and helped her to sit in a chair. She was so palid and some bruises started to show up. She didn't want to speak, not to him, nor some else.
All of her life she protected her little boy, she was feeling so pathetic, she didn't want to be consoled by some little boys. Her gaze landed on his son's friend, he looked so terrified clinging at his brother's arm. She started to bite her lip, trying to control herself from crying.
"...He is gone", she whispered, hiding her face in her hands.
-
Five years later…
The sun rises every day, the moon is still bright. The ponds and rivers around the small village are still lively with fresh water.
Every time he saw fireflies on the summer nights his mind flew to the green eyes he lost that day.
He missed his friend.
He disappeared one day, no one knew anything.
Sukuna enrolled in the army and he was earning money in the frontiers, his letters bringing him joy every month. His grandpa is getting old, and they make an agreement with Auntie (Megumi's mother) to move into her house, Sukuna will pay her to take care of their grandpa. Yuuji wanted to go to the army too and receive a good payment to help his Gramps and Auntie, until…
He sighed, as the day he will have to finally move from the small village to the army quarters near the capital of the kingdom approached, he couldn't help but feel more lonely.
It was Megumi's dream to explore outside the village, he wanted to see everything.
"Yuuji?", Auntie called him softly, sitting by his side on the bench in front of their now house, "Nervous about tomorrow?"
"Kind of", he intertwined his fingers, looking at the moon, "I was… remembering things".
They got into a comfortable silence.
"...Maybe you could find him if you go to the castle, Yuuji".
Yuuji looked at her, the years really accumulated in her skin and hair, but she was still beautiful, like her son.
"At the castle?"
"It's… a possibility", she wasn't looking at him, her gaze fixed on her hands, "if… if you find him. Please… let him know I'm so sorry and that I love him with all my heart".
"Auntie…"
"Yes!", she clapped suddenly, "I'm gonna make dinner! I'll call you when it's ready!"
He left the boy lost in thought with her words. She didn't want to tell him everything. Not right now. He needed to focus, also she wasn't that sure it would be okay to tell him about it.
-
Morning rose up, Itadori Yuuji was a morning person, he cleaned his room, his belongings were already packed as he couldn't bring with him so many things, only the essentials. He went down to make the last breakfast for Auntie and Gramps.
"Good morning, Yuuji", he was surprised by a gentle voice, "I made sure to wake up before you, how could I make you do the work on your last day with us".
Itadori smiled at her, he loved his auntie as the mother he couldn't have. He walked towards her and tightly hugged her. "Thanks for everything, take care both of you", smiling he released her and went up to wake up his grandpa.
-
"I will be back when they give me a vacation, I think. Also, make sure to punch bro since he hadn't shown up here since a long time ago", Itadori started to say his farewells to his family. "Also, I will send money every time so don't work up so much. I'm sure bro still sends money, but, not seeing him at all makes me wonder about him", he let out a deep sigh.
"Yuuji, dear, we're okay, so don't worry", Fushiguro's mom started to ruffle his hair, as she was used to doing it since he was a child, "..."
"Is something wrong, auntie?", he saw some hesitation in her eyes since the morning and maybe it was time to ask, he didn't want to leave with any concerns.
"..."
"Just say it, I will not be angry".
"Megumi was kidnapped by the Royal Family", she shed some tears. She didn't want him to know, but she had hoped that Itadori would find him and get him back… to her. "Please, if you ever see him, try to bring him back, Yuuji".
Itadori was shocked at the confession, he didn't say anything for a whole minute, trying to figure out the woman's words.
"So, he's out here. I can still meet him again".
A glimmer of hope reflected on him began to start. Once again, he will meet him. His only one.
-
Five years earlier…
"Let me go! No!", the black haired boy was struggling hard against his captor (a sturdy soldier, he didn't have a chance) with no avail.
He was thrown into a dark, humid and cold cell somewhere underground. Torches were on the wall, the only source of light and heat in the cold place.
Fushiguro tried to move the cold bar door, it didn't move. He sat on the cold ground, crying hard. He cried until his eyes couldn't shed tears anymore. He went quiet, hugging himself, trembling.
"Oh goodness, he is just a kid", he suddenly heard a female voice, Megumi glanced at the door, a pair of girls (older than him) were looking at him.
Her dresses seemed nice, one had long hair and the other short hair.
"Do you think he actually is his son? Grab the torch, Maki".
Maki grabbed the near torch and illuminated Megumi's cell.
"He surely looks like uncle Toji, uh?"
"No way! He has the same eyes! If he isn't his bastard kid, he looks like him so all of this plan could actually work! Shit!"
"Language, Mai".
"I'm pissed! I'm sorry!"
"Kid, how old are you?", the long haired girl, Maki, asked him, after ignoring him all this time talking with her sister.
"...Ten".
"Your name?"
"Hey, don't ask him that! It's useless!"
"Shut up, Mai", the long haired girl made eye contact with him again, she seemed nice.
"Megumi".
"Cute name for a poor boy".
-
Maki and Mai were his caretakers. After some days in the cell he was summoned in front of the Royal Family. The twins bathed and dressed him nicely and they explained that he should keep quiet and just accept everything they impose on him.
The kid was scared to the bones, he was escorted from the dungeon to a great chamber and corridors, everything was nicely decorated, it looked like… a palace.
The twins escorted him to a big room, where two thrones were in the back, and a lot of chairs and tables were on a circle around a podium. It was full of people that were dressing awesome clothes. Maki and Mai left him on the podium and he trembled. Everyone was watching him.
"Please stand up to receive King Toji Zen'in".
Everyone stood and bowed their heads, the poor kid was confused and scared, looking at the frightening man in front of him.
"Thanks to the Captain of the Royal Guard we finally got another chance for this kingdom. Zen'in family, I present to you an illegitimate heir of mine", the man stood and walked towards the kid, he grabbed his chin, studying his face, "you have my face".
More than half of the room exploded in angry shouts and confused questions. One older woman tried to shut them up.
"You will be my heir, but I warn you. You are a bastard and more than half of this court will try to kill you. You are lucky kid, that we saved you from that hole".
"I wanna go back with my mother", he said, lips trembling and eyes full of tears.
"She sold you, we gave her a lot of money. You are not worthy of a commoner. Your only choice is being here".
Poor Megumi looked at his progenitor with a blank face, tears streaming down his cheeks in silence.
Was it true? A lie? He will never know, but for now, his poor heart was broken.
The meeting ended presenting him as heir. His training will start immediately to prepare him for marriage.
-
"We have to teach you what we learned in fourteen years in one, so pay attention, kid".
"Megumi, please cooperate with us. We don't want you to suffer", Maki crouched besides him in the saloon, smiling at him.
"He is not Megumi anymore, Maki. Remember? It's Zei. Uncle Toji told us to call him like that".
"He is shocked Mai, let him be for a while. Megumi? Megumi?"
No answer.
He tried to escape several times. He tried to send letters with no avail. He tried to befriend the servants so he could have information from outside. Nothing.
He was trapped. They were teaching him manners, laws and history. He didn't want it.
He was beaten up after all the escapes, sometimes by the guards, sometimes by Toji himself. He feared Toji with all his body, his punishments were horrible.
A long time passed, he didn't know how many months, but one day he was summoned with his caretakers to the throne room.
The queen has died, he was gonna be presented to the people.
-
Some time later…
Festivities held at The Kingdom of Wolves created a big scenery in the whole picture for the tourists. The Royal Family liked that everyone gathered and enjoyed the parties. Today it was the first Prince's presentation to society.
"Okay, listen up Itadori, you're covering a big role since you graduated", Itadori was confused since that morning because his commander woke him up agitated with so many new orders as he was getting a really big job.
Itadori was fresh from training, he didn't know why he got that role. He was only seventeen, and maybe it was for his agility and physical abilities but, he knew another soldier could do this job.
Smack
"Please, listen to me, Itadori", he was hit on the back of his head by his commander, a tall and blonde man. He was not that older but his appearance gave out a better sense of experience than he had. He really respected him.
"But, Nanamin..." Smack.
"Sir."
"I still don't get why I'm getting such an important role since I've just graduated and only took one job before this. I mean, being the personal guard of the Prince?!", he was tailing his superior since he kept walking faster to their position. Today was a big challenge for all of the security personnel, the Royal Family allowed everyone to get in the grounds of the castle for the presentation, however they still had strict measures against any kind of assessination's attempt against the Royalty.
"Itadori, calm down, everything happens for a reason. I'm sure, even if you're still a child, they've seen in you some potential", the taller man stopped at a room's heavily decorated door and he saw his subordinate directly in the eyes, he smiled at him, "Be proud".
The assurance from his superior gave Itadori a chance to calm himself. His superior knocked on the door and waited some minutes before a maid opened the door for them.
The girl made a bow and let them enter into the chamber. There was total chaos there, a few maids were rushing everywhere with clothes in their hands. A pair of twins dressed in beautiful dresses were in charge of all the maidens and the Prince. The long haired one noted the soldiers and walked their way, she made a small bow.
"We were waiting for you, Captain. Is this the new personal guard for the Prince?"
"Good morning, my Lady. In effect, he is one of the most skilled soldiers in his generation. He will be a good addition to the security today".
"Yuuji Itadori", the boy introduced him to the girl and she made a hum of agreement.
"You will be Prince Zei's personal guard for now on. Please follow your normal protocols, the only rooms you can leave the Prince alone is the bathroom and his personal room. Let me introduce you to him", she turned and walked through the chamber, there were clothes everywhere.
Maybe they couldn't choose the attire for the presentation.
Itadori gulped, he was nervous.
"Stay calm", Nanami patted him on his back, Itadori stood perfectly.
They reached a fluffy red couch with lots of cushions.
A boy around Itadori's age was sitting comfy between all the cushions in the center of the sofa. He had his eyes closed, dozing off slightly as a maid finished to tie his boots.
He didn't even flinch.
Itadori held his breath. He had never seen the Prince before (there was news from a new heir some years ago and lots of speculation, the Royal Family said they had to hide him to keep him safe), he was tall, slender, his jet black messy hair was framing his face in a cute way.
He took a deep breath when the boy switched a little and his thick and long eyelashes moved a little while he opened his eyes. Their color was between deep green and blue, his gaze hollow and empty.
Itadori stiffened. He almost yelled but he composed himself.
If he was Megumi,he was beautiful.
His heart ached.
"Prince Zei?", the long haired twin arrived at his side and placed a hand on his shoulder, "your new personal guard arrived".
The boy looked at the soldiers, no emotion on his face. Just a blank expression. He nodded slightly and resumed his napping on the couch.
"Please excuse him, he loves to sleep".
"No problem, it's a pleasure for us to meet his Excellency. Itadori, I'll leave it to you. Make us proud".
"I will, Captain".
He was left alone in the busy chamber and he waited.
He was starting to feel anxious about the whole situation, no one was worried about him or even bashing a glance at his movements. He was already used to staying in that kind of position, but nervousness ate him.
"Hey, just move to another place, you're kinda in the way" a short haired girl commanded him, she was busy with a mountain of clothes.
"Sorry, ma’am", the soldier moved near the sleeping boy and watched him, Itadori’s control was at limit. The Prince was just the perfect copy of Megumi.
Except one thing.
His eyes.
The only one second he saw them, he noticed how empty they looked to him, nothing like the colourful and vibrant green he knew when they were kids. The eyes from the Prince looked like the deep blue of the ocean. So cold and lonely.
Maybe it wasn’t him.
Uncertainty filled the young soldier. The bustling sounds of the many maids in the room couldn't reach his ears anymore, he only listened to his own heart. He waited so long to find his beloved friend.
Itadori started to move closer, he wanted to inspect that person closer. His heart told him it was him. Even if they didn't see each other for so many years, he knew Prince Zen'in was Megumi. He extended his hand and wanted to move a hair's lock.
"Don't touch me", a loud smack resounded the room.
An icy glare met with the surprised boy.
"Don't do it again, I don't like it when strangers touch me. Know your place, peasant".
-
The presentation went surprisingly well. There were a lot of murmurs of the high classes.
Prince Zei Zen'in stood perfectly, he spoke his practiced speech and was led into the castle again by his guard and his two caretakers.
"Maki, Mai", he called them and the girls bowed, "can you bring me tea? I want to read. I'm tired", he unclasped his cape and took off the silver tiara he was wearing and dropped them to the floor, "I'll be in the library", he started to walk.
The short haired twin smacked Yuuji's shoulder, and the poor soldier followed the prince.
"We will be there quickly, your Majesty", said the long haired twin sighing and picking the things from the floor.
Yuuji watched the teen in front of him.
He was walking determined, taking gloves, belts, pins and other accessories off, throwing them on the floor without care.
He didn't know if he needed to pick them, if he did that, the Prince would be gone and he didn't know the castle well.
He stood in front of a great pair of wood doors engraved with figures.
"What are you waiting for, peasant? Open the door!"
" What a fucking asshole", Yuuji didn't say anything and opened the big door for him.
He watched the Prince as he entered the room.
No doubt he was Megumi. But, what the fuck happened. His Megumi never treated people like shit. He was gentle and caring.
He didn't know what to do.
Maybe he could talk to him? What if someone else heard them? He needed the money for gramps and auntie.
If he wasn't Megumi and he ended up being a look-a-like cousin or some shit like that, he could put Megumi in danger.
He stood there, at the door after he closed it. Watching him.
The Prince stood in front of a small table in the middle, that had a lot of books piled up. He grabbed the top one.
"Animals of the Forest"
Yuuji wanted to cry.
He opened his mouth to speak but a loud KNOCK in the door startled him.
"Your tea, Zei", Maki spoke as the twins entered the library and Mai, the short haired one stomped into the room.
"What do you think you are doing, scum? Dropping all that shit over the corridors again? I fucking told you that your tantrums won't do anything!"
"Soldier, stay outside and wait for instructions", Maki, the long haired twin told him in a serious tone, her grip on the tea cart was strong enough to make her knuckles white. He walked outside the room, panicked.
Yuuji saw in horror how the other one grabbed the Prince by his collar as Maki closed the door.
He heard screams and thuds.
After a while the door opened. Mai was the first one in going out, she stood in front of the soldier and crossed her arms.
"I'm in charge here. I don't know what Maki told you about your duties but here's the real deal. Your job is to prevent him from walking outside this castle, and make sure he doesn't die. He likes to jump from windows or poison himself, he hasn't done that for some time now tho. But I'm warning you, we want him alive. Your head is on the line if something happens to him. You should not talk to him, only guard him, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am!", he saluted her, in total fear.
She walked away, followed by Maki and she made a sour expression to him. When he entered the room again, he found the Prince crouched on the floor, head resting over his arms on the couch.
No tears. Just a blank, hollow, empty expression.
Yuuji Itadori feared for the life of this boy. And his own.
He looked around to see if there was someone near.
Nothing.
He entered the room and closed the door, walking slowly towards the prince.
"Megumi", he said simply.
The other boy reacted at the name with the widening of his eyes. He looked at Yuuji. Actually looked at him .
Yuuji could swear he saw the past sparkle on his friend's eyes from before.
But it disappeared quickly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you… remember me?"
Prince Zei watched him for a few instants before his gaze went again to the floor.
"No".