Chapter 24

Gojo was pacing.

Well, not just pacing, he was panicking, biting his fingernails as he kept peering at Lady Tiamat's residence. They sent Choso in there two hours ago, he hasn't returned. "What is taking him so long!" Gojo protested.

Toji found it rather funny. The world strongest sorcerer… well… I guess he can keep that title. Was nothing more than a mere mess of his former self. "Relax, they didn't kill him or anything. I don't smell blood. Unless they ate him whole and alive, but I am sure we would have heard screaming by now…" he said offhandedly.

"Thanks for that, that's my brother in there!" Junpei protested. "But I sense him, he's okay… and yet… oddly relaxed."

"You can pick up your brother's emotions?" asked Toji.

"Not as good as Choso can, he had practice. Me, I can sense my brothers and current moods. Choso will get every emotion one is feeling and knows if something troubles them. He's that damn good…"

"Enough about Choso, what about Yua!" Satoru protested.

"I am not connected to her," Junpei said innocently enough. "But she must be okay. I mean, again, we haven't heard a scream or anything."

Satoru flinched oddly. "Are you worried about something?" Toji demanded. "Those kids may have tried to hurt her before, but they won't again. Lady Tiamat saw to that,"

He shook his head on the notion. Suddenly he began to panic. "What if they want her for something else?" he whispered.

"Oh for the love of…" Nanami muttered. He paused and appeared to place his index finger to his forehead. Toji has seen the other sorcerers do this, telepathic communication with curse energy. Nanami then nodded in understanding. "She's fine," he said flat out. "She is just pinned by the boys at the moment, they are snuggling her." He said in an odd tone.

"Ppppfffff!" snorted Toji. "See, they are baby dragons. They just want someone to cuddle up with! Like really big freaking kittens!"

"Can you sense my brother in there?" Junpei asked.

Nanami nodded. "He got caught up in this little… snuggling contention. He's trapped between Yua and Yuuji for the time being, but according to Yua, he is asleep like the other two. She isn't moving any time soon."

"Then… it's safe to go in! They know who we are!" Gojo decreed. He stormed in without thinking, just as Nanami tried to call for him to come back. Toji on the other hand stopped him from doing so.

"Kento, Kento… let's enjoy the moment," he said and grinned wickedly.

They watched Gojo go in… then come flying out!

He was thrown back and away and Toji actually smelt blood! "Whoa… someone landed a hit!" he said in an impressive tone.

Suiryu stormed out!

He glared at everyone around him but his sights sent on Gojo! Yua had to run out. "Suiryu stop!" she pleaded him.

Instantly, he froze and turned to her. "He didn't mean any harm, it's Gojo, he's a friend remember?" she said gently.

Only low growls came out of Suiryu, he turned back towards the residents, but gave one final warning lunge to Satoru. When he was satisfied, he turned back to Yua and calmed himself down. "It was actually perfect timing, I had to pee!" Yua said and rushed to the bathroom.

Suiryu paused once more, he turned and stared at Junpei oddly. He came up really close to his face before taking a single sniff. He then stepped back and nodded with approval.

"Okay… that was weird…" Junpei muttered.

"He just verified for himself that you are a sibling."

Choso came out of the residence, Suiryu suddenly grabbed his arm forcing him to stop. But, he looked worried. "It's okay little brother, I am good right now, you and Yuuji rest up okay? I'll check on everyone later."

He peered away but released Choso from his grasp. Suiryu then went back into Lady Tiamat's residence and closed the door behind him.

"Yua… is Yua…" Gojo asked as he recovered from the strike.

"How on earth did he hit you?" Toji questioned.

"Shut up…"

"Suiryu and Yuuji can see beyond limitless and use it against Gojo." Choso explained. "It's like finding a hole in an impenetrable wall. But to answer you Satoru, she is fine. If anything the brothers tend to see her more like a mother than anything else…"

Suddenly, everyone paused. "Wait… they see her as a mother?!" demanded Junpei.

"Indeed."

"She's no Lady Tiamat…" muttered Toji.

"Watch it…" Gojo warned.

"It's simply the mindset they are in, my brothers are just very protective of her. It's their dragon instinct, but I am unaware if the young actually do this for their mother or if this is just memory based…"

"Huh?" everyone asked.

"Well, you recall that dragon meeting they went to, how they belittled Lady Tiamat? Suiryu told me all about it, she wasn't respected at all among the others. It perhaps may have triggered this mindset they are in. They want to ensure she is safe from threats since they are now strong enough to keep her safe."

No one moved. Toji merely smirked before turning to Gojo. "Then why did they kick his ass?"

"I want to know that too…" Gojo muttered. "I am a friend to them right?"

"It's the frame of mind, at the moment they are still trying to figure things out. They didn't even recognize me until I was carefully inspected. Remember, they are in a baby dragon mindset. They seek out those that are familiar to them from said mindset. At the moment, we're all strangers to them until they figure out for themselves as to who we are. My brothers and I are probably safe around them since we share a similar scent."

"But… Yua's MY wife!"

"Satoru… it's best to leave it be for the time being, or are we going to watch you get mauled time and time again?" Nanami asked with a sigh.

"Oh way to blow it! This would have been entertaining for some time!" protested Toji. "Either way, she's got two massive bodyguards. You won't have to worry about her,"

He wasn't happy with the notion. Gojo wanted Yua back, and he just may do something stupid to do so… Toji was looking forward to all this playing out!