Chapter Text
2018
Mayfair, London, England
The double-glazed windows of Saeko Akui’s Mayfair flat held the distant thrum of London at bay, sealing her bedroom in near-total silence despite the occasional siren beyond the glass.
Saeko lay submerged in a rare, dreamless sleep, cocooned beneath expensive linen and the kind of stillness only wealth and thick brick walls could buy.
Silver moonlight spilled across hardwood flooring, illuminating an open suitcase abandoned near the wardrobe. Wrinkled clothes spilled over one side beside tangled charging cables and international adaptors - small evidence of a life rarely lived in one place for long.
For once, she was still.
Ding.
Silence.
Ding. Ding.
Her nose twitched.
Then came the sharp buzz of her phone vibrating violently against the cedar bedside table.
“Shut up,” Saeko muttered, blindly reaching for the offending device.
Her fingers fumbled against the screen until the ringing stopped. Satisfied, she dropped her arm back onto the mattress and sank immediately toward unconsciousness.
The phone rang again.
This time, she sat bolt upright with the expression of a woman moments away from committing a felony. Agitated, she grabbed the phone to see who was calling her.
The bright screen made her squint, eyes still adjusting to the new light. Her phone was still vibrating in her hand, displaying Satoru Gojo’s name in bold across the screen.
She sighed. “Oh, of course.”
Rolling her eyes, she slid her finger across to accept the call.
“Do you know what time it is?” Saeko grumbled, throat dry from her sleep.
“Mm, early?”
She could hear his snickering in the background. The woman rubbed the sides of her head, vexed. “Satoru, don’t fucking start.”
This made the white haired male laugh, the audio call picking up louder echoes. “Sorry, sorry! I swear I forgot about timezones!”
She peeled herself from expensive linen sheets she had every intention of crawling back into, pressing the phone to her ear. “What do you want?”
“You know what I want. You ignored the letter.”
Entering her spotless kitchen, she grabbed a glass and filled it with water. “I ignore a lot of things,” she said, sipping, voice echoing back at her.
“We have a first year.” He continued, confusing Saeko.
She didn’t speak, allowing him to finish. “He ate one of Sukuna’s fingers.”
“Sorry, what?!” Saeko nearly spat out her water.
“Did they not mention it in the letter?”
Nervously gulping down the rest of her drink, she placed the cup down a bit harshly, next to a bright envelope. “Obviously not, you know how they are! They said Sukuna has a vessel and they wanted me to return for protection, but they didn’t say he was a teenager.”
“Yeah, well, they want him executed. Megumi asked for that not to happen because the boy had saved him on a mission.”
She arched a brow, but let him continue, “I need someone here who won’t let that happen.”
Saeko paused, removing the phone from her ear and stared longingly at the Caller ID. She chuckled lightly, pressing the phone back to her ear, “Satoru Gojo is asking me, Saeko Akui, for help. This might go down in the history books.”
“You know I don’t need back up, Sae-chan. It’s just— if anyone can tell me what happens when a kid shares a body with something ancient and homicidal, it’s probably you.”
The man continued, “And I’d rather have someone here who sees him as a kid before a problem. Plus, Megs misses you.”
“You said this vessel saved Megumi. What mission did you assign him with?” Saeko skeptically questioned with concern for the young boy as she pulled out a seat from the counter of her kitchen.
On the other side of the phone, Satoru rubbed the back of his neck. “Ahaaah, we can talk about that in person! Just come back and I’ll introduce you to the boy. His name is Yuji Itadori.”
The woman ignored the white haired fool, leaning her head into her hand, elbow resting on the clean slate of her kitchen counter, “Megs is just a first year. Don’t send him on anything too extreme. Besides, isn’t he practically the only first year? I’ve not heard of any more. Other than Itadori.”
“Don’t worry! You’re just late to all the news. They’ve been here for about a week or two! Oh— you’re gonna love the girl!” He rambled.
Once again, she sighed as she got up and swiftly grabbed the Manila envelope that sat on her desk. “How’re the second years? What about my beloved third years?”
“Second years are in good hands. Mine, obviously. They’re doing well. Yuta’s not in the country, so if you come back you won’t find him anywhere. The third years— still suspended.”
Saeko frowned at the last part, bringing herself back to the kitchen, “Kinji and Kirara are a hundred percent not coming back. They keep sending me videos of their fight club, asking if I could visit.”
Satoru chuckled at her fondness of her previous students, “So, you comin’ back or what?”
Unwilling to sound too eager, she closed her eyes for a moment in thought. “I’ll see. Wh—“
“Perfect! See you soon, Sae-chan~” Gojo quickly interrupted, ending the call.
For a moment, Saeko remained seated at the kitchen counter, phone still pressed loosely to her ear as though Satoru might say something else.
Nothing came. Only silence.
She slowly lowered the device, placing it face down against the marble countertop.
The apartment felt strangely larger without his voice bouncing through it.
Too quiet. Too still.
Just minutes ago, the silence had felt indulgent - earned, even. Now, it sat heavily in the room, thick and expectant.
Saeko stared blankly at the slate of marble, shiny and spotless, her own tired reflection staring faintly back at her.
“Well,” she muttered dryly to no one in particular, dragging a hand down her face.
So much for a peaceful night.
Ding.
The black-haired woman flipped her phone over and a preview banner appeared across the top, phone illuminating her apartment.
Megumi Fushiguro
She exhaled softly, smiling to herself and unlocked the phone.
Saeko
How’s Tsumiki today?
And how are u?? X
New messages
Megumi
About the same. Doctor says no changes.
I’m doing okay. A lot has been happening recently.
Now
Gojo told me he called you.
Saeko smiled even more at this.
Saeko
He called me at 3 in the morning. Tell ur guardian I hate him
Megumi
Oh hello
I thought you’d go back to sleep after the call.
I will let him know.
But you’re coming back, right?
Tsumiki misses you.
Saeko
Awwwh Megs, is it her missing me or is it actually u
I miss u guys too don’t worry
Megumi
Even that blindfolded idiot?
Saeko
Yes hun, even him
I’ll see u soon x
Megumi
Finally because we need someone to keep him in check
Saeko sighed as she swapped her phone for the open envelope. She pushed herself from the kitchen stool, restless now.
Sleep was clearly no longer an option.
Her fingers smoothed absently over the envelope’s crisp edges before making her way toward the floor to ceiling glass doors at the far end of her apartment.
With a soft click, she slid one open.
Immediately, the cool English air rushed in to greet her.
Her terrace overlooked the sleeping streets of Mayfair, the city still caught somewhere between night and morning. Streetlamps cast warm pools of amber over rain dark pavement below, whilst the occasional taxi drifted past like a ghost.
Saeko stepped barefoot onto the stone tiles, suppressing a shiver as the cold bit at her skin.
London always smelled different at this hour.
Cleaner. Quieter. Less demanding.
She leaned against the railing, tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear, then absentmindedly tapped her nails against the cold metal bar.
And, finally she got the courage to reread the letter she had spent the better half of a week ignoring.
Miss Akui,
Due to the emergence of a viable vessel for Ryomen Sukuna, your immediate presence has been requested in Japan.
As one of the few active sorcerers with specialised expertise in soul-related cursed phenomena, your consultation is considered necessary in assessing this unprecedented case.
Travel arrangements have been enclosed to ensure your timely return to Japan. You are expected to arrive no later than the morning of June 24th.
Given the urgency of the matter, failure to comply with this request may be interpreted as a refusal to cooperate in matters concerning national jujutsu security.
We trust your continued commitment to the safety and preservation of jujutsu society.
Tokyo Jujutsu Headquarters
Continued commitment? She laughed at the thought, sharply folding the letter back into the envelope. Saeko had already missed their deadline; her flight took off two days ago.
Groaning, she pulled her legs back inside her flat, setting aside the letter. The warmth of the floorboards welcomed her and instantly made her feel cozy again. She needed to text Satoru.
Finding her way back to her kitchen, she wasted no time in grabbing her phone and tapping away to message her close friend.
Saeko
When do u want me there
Satoru
As soon as possible love
You’re not asleep?
Saeko
Shut up
U need to read this bullshit of a letter
Id burn it if I could
Anyways they wanted me there by last Friday oops
Satoru
You want me to book you a flight?
Saeko
No it’s calm I got this
Satoru
Too late
Check your emails ;)
Saeko
Toru wtf
A new notification appeared almost instantly.
Flight Confirmation – British Airways
Saeko stared at it for a long moment.
He actually booked it. Of course he did.
She opened the email.
London Heathrow → Tokyo Haneda
Departure: 18:45
First class. This afternoon. One way.
Her eye twitched, “Pretentious bastard.”
Saeko crossed the apartment and crouched before the abandoned suitcase near her bed.
She had barely unpacked from her last trip.
A blouse still hung half-folded over the zipper. Toiletries remained untouched in their pouch.
With a sigh, she began repacking.
Laptop.
Chargers.
Documents.
A compact cursed tool wrapped carefully in cloth.
Then—
Something thin slipped from the inner pocket of her carry-on and fluttered onto the floor.
A receipt. Yellowed slightly at the edges. Tokyo. A bookstore receipt.
Saeko froze.
She stared at it for one beat too long before folding it in half and shoving it into the side compartment.
Not today. Nope.
By the time Saeko left her flat, dawn had finally begun bleeding gold into the city.
Several hours had passed since Satoru had so graciously ruined her sleep schedule, leaving her with far too much time to overthink and absolutely no desire to sit around her apartment any longer.
Soho was beginning to stir as she coasted through the streets on an electric bike, coat pulled tighter around herself against the morning chill.
The six minute journey was one she could probably complete blindfolded by now. Not that she trusted herself with London traffic enough to test the theory.
The bell above the café door chimed softly as she stepped inside.
Warmth enveloped her instantly, accompanied by the rich smell of coffee beans, steamed milk and fresh pastry.
“Morning, Saeko,” one of the baristas called from behind the counter.
She lifted a hand in greeting.
“You’re early today.”
“I couldn't get back to sleep.”
This earned a quiet laugh. “It gets so bright in the morning these days.” Oh, how she wishes it was because of that.
By the time she reached the till, someone was already placing her usual order into the system. “Hot ube latte, dulce de leche pastry?”
“You know me too well.”
As one of the girls handed over her drink carrier, she smiled.
“Oh— before I forget, our Marylebone branch opens next Friday. You should come.”
Saeko paused. For the briefest moment, something in her expression shifted.
Ah. Right. Tokyo.
She adjusted her grip on the paper bag. “I’m actually going out of town for a while.”
The girl nodded easily, not pressing further. “Well, next time then.”
“Hopefully.”
Stepping back onto the pavement, Saeko was greeted by a city entirely different from the one she had watched from her terrace hours earlier.
The streets no longer belonged to taxis and silence. Now there were commuters, cyclists, delivery vans, dogs tugging impatient owners along narrow pavements.
London had woken up.
She cradled the warmth of her drink between her palms and began walking with no real destination in mind.
For now, she still had a few more hours before Tokyo came to collect her.