Contrary to the popular belief of Tomoko and Akito, Nana did have friends that resided outside the marble Clan walls. It was rare for the women of Clans, in general, to be allowed out in public; unless they were out fighting and exorcising curses, they spent most of their time behind the cage that surrounded them. Nana wasn't sure if it was because Tomoko didn't care where she went or because Akito allowed her to do as she pleased, but Nana spent most of her time wandering the market streets or visiting little shops that enchanted her. Her favorite, though, was the little Farmer's Market that was only a solid fifteen minutes away from her home. There, hundreds upon hundreds of herbs, teas, books, seeds, flowers, vegetables, and fruits littered a tiny street—one that was overly crowded with people rushing by and children chasing one another.

It was here that Nana met her first and, what she considered, closest fried: Ieiri Shoko. With brown hair that mimicked the dark chocolate Nana loved, eyes that reminded her of amber whiskey—and where a small mole laid under her right one—she was the sister Nana secretly wished she had.

Their personalities contrasted from time to time: Shoko wanting to watch a new movie while Nana wanted to bake cookies; Nana wanting to visit the Farmer's Market and Shoko wanting to lay on the couch; but they always managed to find a compromise. Sometimes, and though she dared never to voice it, Nana wondered what life would be like if Satoru was more like Shoko. Would they get along better? Would things go smoother? Nana already knew that future Satoru—the one seen in the manga and anime—was going to be a pain in her ass. Of course, she often thought, I had to get stuck with the most arrogant character.

Sighing, Nana stared out the window. Moe stood in front of the door, waiting for her next words—for Nana to tell her what the new plans were going to be. With her thirteenth birthday rolling around the corner, Akito was becoming rather generous with the money she was allowed to spend. Nana wasn't foolish, nor was she greedy. She only bought what she considered necessary and what she liked. It was an action that not only surprised Moe, but Akito as well. In some strange way, it was almost like they expected her to use up everything and come back with boxes upon boxes of clothes, purses, whatever.

Nana rarely ever did that.

She spend the money given to her on gardening supplies, new teas to try with Moe, a chess set she thought Satoru might like (it still remained under her bed and dust was beginning to cover it…maybe she'd give it to him for his birthday), and different vegetable and herb seeds that she found intriguing—ones she'd never heard of before. There was no point in buying vegetables, fruits, or flowers. Akito had that covered and Nana decided against messing with his garden, she'd just create her own.

"What do you want to do, Nana-chan?" Moe's gentle voice carried softly through the room. The dark storm clouds were lazily rolling through the sky, and Nana scowled. She was supposed to meet Shoko at the Farmer's Market.

"Do you think Shoko can come over?" She asked, a lithe, pale finger dragging over the glass as condensation slowly began to cloud it, "Tomoko's visiting her parents…it shouldn't be an issue, right?"

Nana wasn't blind to the pain that flashed through Moe's eyes or how her posture straightened at the reference of Tomoko visiting her parents. When was the last time you were allowed home? she wondered, digging her teeth into her lower lip. A sharp sting resonated through the area, a fresh cut still waiting to heal.

"I don't think it will be an issue." Moe said, "But Gojou-sama requested that the two of you meet later today. Do you think you'll have enough time for both? It's already noon."

With a hum, Nana dragged a hand through her loose hair, picking out knots and smoothing it down. Truthfully, she didn't want to see Satoru today. Whenever he came over, she was required to wear her best yukata or kimono, depending on the weather, and her hair was always pulled into the tightest bun. It was so fucking uncomfortable. Besides, she nodded, it's not like I have to do what he says.

"I can meet with Satoru tomorrow. I doubt he'll want to travel in this weather; plus," Nana turned to meet Moe's gaze, a small smile on her face, "Shoko and I've been planning to hangout for the past week. It would horribly impolite of me to cancel for another person, don't you agree?"

The grin that slipped onto Moe's face at her words nearly mirrored her own, the two identical and each holding a slight dimple in their left cheek.

"Would you like to make the call, or would you like me too, Nana?"

Shuffling off her bed and sliding her slippers on, Nana straightened the crewcut sweatshirt Akito gave her when she was seven. It was far too big, hanging at her midthighs, but it brought her a strange comfort. Vanilla and a woodsy scent often lingered on it. No matter how many times it was washed, it always came back smelling the same… like Moe and Akito. Almost like…almost like home.

"I can tell him, I'm not sure if he answers the phone, though." It might be an action that's beneath him.

A soft laugh left Moe, her eyes sparkling with mirth and a silent joy. Nana wasn't unaware of her caretaker's dislike towards a certain white-haired boy. She noticed the eyerolls that Moe sent at the mention of the Gojou name, or how she kept a narrowed gaze on him. Moe, like Nana, didn't like people who were blind to the world around them and Moe, unlike Nana, thought Gojou Satoru was weak—a spineless prisoner of the Gojou Clan.

The halls were silent except for the light chatter of the other helpers and chiefs. Truthfully, Nana wasn't sure how to address them collectively. While Satoru had no issue calling them servants, maids, or the help, that just didn't sit right with Nana. They were people, they were someone. When she was younger, Nana asked Moe what to call them. While looking pleased, Moe told her that there was no name for them—that they were just there and all she needed to do was be kind to them. Instead, Nana insisted on learning the names of the people she saw daily. Coming to a stop in front of the sleek steal phone with white ear and speaker phones, one that Tomoko must've seen in a catalogue of some sort, Nana dialed the number she memorized. Not because she called Satoru often—no way!—but because it was the first time she ever had a friend, had someone, to call.

"Hi, is Gojou Satoru available?" Nana already knew the answer to the question she asked and, when the woman who answered the phone replied 'no, but I can take a message for him', she simply said, "Can you please inform him that Oguri Nana is unable to make any plans for today and that she has time tomorrow?"

"Of course, miss."

With a cheeky smile, Nana's grip loosened on the phone, "Thank you! I hope you have a nice day."

She didn't wait to hear the woman's response as she hung up. Though it was rude, Nana couldn't contain the excitement that buzzed through veins. Her fingers nimbly dialing the number Shoko gave her, the annoying, repetitive ring sounding. On the third tone, a familiar voice flooded her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Shoko, it's Nana."

"Oh, hey, Nana. Did you hear about the storm that's supposed to hit?" Shoko, as always, was straight to the point. There was no polite, small talk, no idle chitchat, none of that. The teenager (who, yes, was older than Nana and it was a fact she was slightly bitter about) didn't pull any bullshit, and that was something Nana valued. People who were honest, even brutally so, were welcome in her eyes. They were easier to know and their motives were never hard to see. A slight change in their behavior would be quickly noticed.

Twisting her finger around the plastic cord, she hummed, "Yeah, Moe told me a few minutes ago. I was wondering if you'd like to come over? We can watch some movies and get takeout, if you want."

"Yeah," She could practically see Shoko absentmindedly nodding, "That sounds good. Should I bring anything?"

"Bring a movie you like," Nana said, "Or one you've been wanting to watch. Do you need my address or would you like a car to come pick you up?"

As much as she tried, Nana wasn't used to living what was considered a 'normal' life. Though she was reborn into a fictional world and was considered a sorcerer, even by those means, her life was far from normal. Moe always trailed behind her, Tomoko always mocked and ridiculed her, and Akito remained loving from afar. Nana, in other words, lived a sheltered life that, at the same time, exposed her to the horrors of Clan power. There were moments late at night where she wished she could've just died—that if she had been reborn at all, that it was someone who was just a human.

Oh well, she would remind herself, I'm already here, there's no point in wasting it.

"Just give me your address." Shoko said, pulling Nana from her thoughts, "It would be easier for me than having some fancy-ass limo pick me up."

"It's not a limo, but okay," Nana responded without much thought before dutifully stating her address. With a promise of being there in thirty minutes, the two said their goodbyes and Nana gently placed the phone down.

Spinning on her heel, warm brown eyes met her own, Moe's face holding a soft smile, the dimple in left cheek just beginning to show.

"I take it that she'll be over soon?"

Nana nodded with a hum, "Yep, in about thirty minutes or so" She paused, debating her next words before continuing, "Can we make those ginger cookies? The ones that we often eat on special occasions? I once caught Shoko eating a ginger candy and I think she might like them."

"Of course," Moe said, obviously pleased, "We can make them now if you'd like. If so, they'd be ready by the time she arrives."

A gentle breeze graced the empty hallway, ruffling loose strands of her hair and tugging at the bottom of her sweatshirt. Despite how closed off her home felt, Nana was often surprised by how open it truly was. With a tall, oak door at the entrance, large, open windows filled the surrounding walls. Rarely were they ever seen closed. It was only, however, when Tomoko roamed these halls that house became closed off. While Moe adored the caress of the wind, Tomoko loathed it with all her being. The two—though, as Nana noticed, so similar—were completely different. In fact, it almost felt as though Tomoko went out of her way to dislike everything Moe enjoyed.

Gnawing at her lower lip, ignoring the glare Moe sent her when she felt the familiar metallic taste grace her tongue, Nana glanced at the closed set of twin doors. Both mahogany with gold engraved upon it, they hid Akito's office from prying eyes.

"Do you think he'd like some?" She asked, unsure if it would be a smart idea to visit her father when he was busy. Although she knew that Moe tried her hardest to remain inconspicuous, Nana wasn't unaware of the hurried footsteps or the hopeful glances.

There's still so much to do.

"I'm sure he would." Moe smiled.

Nana mulled the thought over, "Then…then I guess we should get to work?"

As she said before, Gojou Satoru was not what she expected.

He was a whiny, sniveling mess, in her opinion, who depended so much on others that Nana doubted he'd ever be able to take care of himself. Which, she mused, makes sense in the future. But Nana and Satoru weren't there yet. In fact, they hadn't even breached the topic of going to school or what was to come afterward. Yet, despite knowing for Satoru for a couple of years now, Nana realized that she truly knew nothing about him. It had been a few weeks since she tried her best to destroy his confidence (well, not that exactly, she just wanted to open his eyes to what the Clan Elders were actually doing), and Satoru hadn't changed at all…really.

They were still required to meet once a week, sometimes more if Satoru ordered it, but their visits never differed from one another. If the weather was nice, the two would wander around Akito's gardens. Most of the time, there would be no conversation. Nana would eat whatever candy appealed to her that day while ignoring the gazes Satoru tried to subtly send her way. If it rained or the weather was too cold, she found herself in the tea room, staring at the wall behind Satoru's head with a rather dull expression on her face. Satoru, on the other hand, never dared to look away from her.

Truthfully, it made Nana a bit uncomfortable but, hey, what could she do about it?

So much, I could honestly do anything to get him to stop looking at me.

What Nana didn't expect, however, was Satoru to be so upset with her refusing to see him—to ask him to reschedule their meeting. It had only been a couple of minutes since she entered the kitchen, the batter only a mess of flour and spices, when Reika, one of the people who helped keep the gardens at the front of the estate clean, rushed in. Hair damp from the rain, cheeks flushed from hurry, and eyes wild, Nana tilted her head, confused at her appearance.

"Is everything alright, Reika?" She asked, placing down the measuring cup. Moe bristled beside her and Nana didn't have to glance to see that the older woman placed herself threatening behind her, a warning for whatever to come next.

"Yes, Nana-chan," Nana had made it clear when she was younger that she loathed being addressed as Nana-sama or Oguri-sama. In fact, she went an entire day ignoring anyone who did so, "It's just that, well, Gojou-sama is in the tea room demanding that you meet him. I—I couldn't say no…the Gojou Clan, they're—"

Aggravation and frustration coursed through her veins: red, hot, and full of fury. Who does he think he is, she wanted to screech, demanding to meet with me—ignoring my requests as though he's in control. But she didn't. Instead, Nana tried to fix a somewhat pleasant smile on her face.

"It's okay, Reika. I'll go to him now." Turning she met Moe's cold stare, "Please continue with the cookies, this shouldn't take long."

Moe hesitated, Nana could see the clear and utter desire to argue with her flicker in the suddenly stony brown eyes, and Nana waited for her to speak. It was only when she remained silent that Nana left the room.

Her footsteps rang louder than she remembered them to be as she walked down the hallway. Part of her wondered if Satoru was going to insult her appearance today. She wasn't, by any means, wearing the proper clothing nor was she prepared in any way to greet him. The door to the tea room was closed, which Nana expected it to be. With a steady pace, she came to halt in front of the old doors, gently pushing them to the side and barely flinching when Satoru's frigid glare burned into her.

"Good afternoon, Satoru." She smiled, taking a step into the room and closing the door behind her. Satoru said nothing, his hawk-like gaze watching her every move. Quietly, she slipped to her side of the table, kneeling on the cushion beneath her before getting comfortable and resting her hands in her lap, "It's a surprise to see you here today."

Why are you here? It was a question she didn't ask, but one that made itself known.

"I requested that we meet later today, did you not get the message?" Ah, Nana mentally hummed, straight to the point.

Shaking her head, she diligently began to pick at the skin surrounding her nails, "No, I did; it's just that, unfortunately, I already made plans with someone else."

"Who?" Satoru snarled and the room suddenly felt cold.

Nana paused, her eyes narrowing and her lips pulling into a frown. Not once had Satoru ever spoken to her like this. Sure, she'd seen him address Aoi, the one who monitored their walks, in such a disrespectful manner, but Satoru had never raised his voice—nor never spoken with so much rage—towards her. Her heart pounded in her chest, her hands suddenly feeling numb and it was only when a sharp pain shot through them that she acknowledged that she was bleeding. Who does he think he is?

"Why does it matter." Nana said, "It's none of your business."

Cerulean blue eyes darkened in color, a feat Nana didn't think possible. Gentle fury pulled at Satoru's features: his jaw clenching, his eyes narrowing, his lips pulling back into a grimace. So much emotion, she yearned to coo, I didn't think it was possible.

"Because you belong to me."

Heart stopping in her chest, hands beginning to shake with controlled anger, stomach coiling and twisting, Nana wanted to scream. This was the Gojou Satoru she was stuck with. She didn't want him. If she had a choice, she'd pick anyone over him. Geto Suguru, Fushiguro Toji, it didn't matter who they were as long as they never spoke to her in such a way. She wasn't an object, she was a person. She was Oguri Nana and, if she so wished, she could be the death of Gojou Satoru.

"I don't belong you," Nana hissed, feeling the familiar telltale signs of her cursed energy rushing to her hands. The gentle tingle, the sharp pinch and pull as her skin weaved itself back together. "I don't even want you. You're nothing to me, Satoru, and if I was blessed with you dying, my life would become much happier than it ever was. You're nothing but a Zen'in in disguise. A mindless fool who makes promises of becoming strong when you're nothing but weak. You, Gojou Satoru, are nothing but a weak, powerless child who likes to play God. You're disgusting to even be around."

Pushing herself up, hands still shaking and her stomach feeling as though it were in her throat, Nana left. She pretended not to see Moe's walking towards the kitchen door, she pretended to ignore the proud smirk on her face, but Nana would ever pretend that she didn't see the hurt that flashed through Satoru's eyes, how his face dropped ever-so-slightly at her words.

Don't come back, she wished she said, don't come back until I can recognize you.

But when would that be?

sorry this is late, i had a bit of a writer's block for a while tbh. let me know what you think? how you're liking (or not) gojou and shoko's involvement or nana's thoughts, behavior, and responses!

but thank you for all the reviews, favorites, and follows. ik I don't say it enough but I really, and honestly appreciate each and every one of you guys.

Kxrmx: i understand if perfectly so don't apologize! I'm glad you like it and, yes, nana definitely will be learning self defense. I, too, get frustrated with stories where the MC doesn't really do anything helpful when it comes to a fight so Nana will definitely be helping in ways that will later be revealed :) YES! it is, in a way, very similar to Sakura, not the same but similar. thank you for the weapons recommendation! I'm going to look further into them (i lowkey really like the idea of nana wielding a katana) and I'll check out the video! Thank you so much for this review, it was so fun and nice to read! I hope you like the chapter!

Xielle Sky: Thank you! i love kakashi so much dude like ahhh! dw, nana will not be pulling and obito (she's not going to die in anyway). gojou is still very much struggling with nana's personality (as you can see in this chapter haha) but she does influence how he is as an adult a lot. yessss, let's end TOMOKO! but not yet :( thank you for the review! i hope you like this chapter and i love your profile picture (haikyuu is one of my favs)

Guest: it's alright! to be honest, i often forget that i'm allergic to certain foods and i find myself eating them lmao. is tomoko the mother? is she not? maybe this chapter will help reveal some things and help settle your inner debate :D yes, her technique definitely has a pain transferal part to it and if nana uses it, she completely takes away ALL the pain another is feeling. i'll check out hidan, though! i love naruto but it's so long I can't...i really tried but I can't. hidan wikipage here I come! thank you for the review (more strawberry candies to come) and i hope you enjoy the chapter!

DreamOfTheDamn: Plot twist! maybe this chapter throws another one at you! I hope you enjoy it and thank you so much for the review!

Kayumeee: Haha! same, as much as I 'like' writing tomoko i cant wait for her secrets to be revealed and yesss gojou getting all grumpy and offended :) he definitely holds a bit of a grudge now. thank you for the review! i hope you find this chapter enjoyable!

akagami hime chan: she is, isn't she? lowkey she just likes bothering and fucking around with gojou (shhhh don't let him know this haha) spite is going to hold a lot to the future! i'm glad you like it! thank you for the review and I hope you like this chapter!

zoeh8: me too and i'm writing it HAHA :D yeah, nana loves messing with gojou, tbh i always pictured him as super easy to rile up. I hope you like this chapter and thank you so much for the review!

Yuki Suou: yesss do ittt! i promise you won't regret it! i like it so much, its so good! but, nonetheless, i hope you like this chapter :) and thanks for the review!

WritingUndercover: cool username! i'm glad i've intrigued you, muahahah but either way I really hope you enjoy this chapter (and it intrigues you even more) and thank you so much for the review :D