Tranquility
Is you running or exercising, baby? (Yeah) Keep it one, one Claymore this way, it's almost like control-
Miles And Miles
Yuta continued to walk with Toge and Satoru towards the departure location, with Satoru continuing to give tips and pointers on how Yuta could get lucky with Maki. The young sorcerer only listened to about a third of the advice being given, with little to no intention of actually applying it.
Before long they were making their way through the courtyard, from which Yuta could already see his partner. She was standing by a black Mercedes Maybach S Class S600, talking to Panda. While examining an eloquently made dao sword, performing a few practice slashes test out the weapon. By her expression, she seemed to be pretty pleased with it.
But before he or Inumaki could get closer to really see the details of the weapon, she put the sword away. Gojo however, saw everything.
"That's an outstanding blade, Maki. The Prowling Tiger it's called, I believe. It is said to come from the Sui dynasty of ancient China. It was a weapon only the most elite Tiandi; loyal protectors to kings, queens, and emperors. Were allowed to wield and own such exclusive swords. It was said that, 'Those who own such swords, had the signs of a true predator.' So It fits you very well, Maki." Satoru praised his young disciple, as he and his other students were now in front of the others.
"It is a fine theme, But I think, a panda one. Would have been even more impressive." Panda said with pride, giving a paw thumbs-up.
"Yeah, sure, whatever, But thanks anyways Panda, I really appreciate you picking this up for me. Especially on late notice, I own you one." Maki said with gratitude, but also dismissing her friend's panda theme idea. Zipping up the bag that stored the dao, she held it by her side like a briefcase. With her usual burgundy and gold case that housed her spear, along with other pole weapons over her right shoulder.
"Also thanks Gojo for the extra missions. They helped me earn the cash for this and another….gift." The Green haired girl thanked her teacher evenly, rolling her eyes at how his smirk grew into a full blown smile at her words.
Turning her golden eyed gaze towards her teammate, a tiny frown formed on Maki's face as she took him in. Noticing the darkness under his eyelids was a little more pronounced than usual, which could only be due to lack of sleep more so than usual.
"That dumbass probably did more training than necessary or took on a mission. Or maybe both. First thing he's doing when we get settled in Shinjuku is taking a nap, for at least an hour or two. Gojo should have prevented this." An agitated but concerned Maki turned to look at the white haired man.
Who seemed to be reading her thoughts, holding up his hands while giving innocent shrugs and waves.
"Can I get your bags for you?" Okkotsu asked his friend, the kind and considerate gesture seemed to cool Maki's slight annoyance. As she allowed the young man to store her luggage in the trunk, that was recently popped open thanks to the button Gojo pushed.
Leaning casually up against the Maybach, waiting for the youngins to say their goodbyes for now. Plus, Gojo was also still waiting for Utahime. Whenever he thought of the blackish-purple hair lady, rather it be positive or negative. It brought a pleasant smile to his face.
"Don't worry guys. Me and Inumaki will hold down the fort while you're gone." Panda said with enthusiastic conviction, giving a fist pump to emphasize his statement.
"Salmon Salmon." Toge said with affirmative nods of his head, backing up his teammate's words. Shaking hands with Yuta as they got ready to depart.
"Sorry If I kept you guys waiting long, Satoru asked me at the last minute to accompany him to escort Yuta and Maki to Shinjuku. Then I had to get dressed in a hurry. If he had told me earlier, I would have been ready much sooner. Utahime spoke with a hint of agitation in her voice, shooting her boyfriend an exasperated look. Who again held up his hands and gave unimpeachable shrugs, while walking nonchalantly to the passenger side of the car. And opened the door for Semi-Grade 1 sorceress.
Iori rolled her eyes, while trying to hide the small smirk on her face as she got in the vehicle. Yuta did the same with the backdoors for Maki. After a few more goodbyes to Inumaki and Panda, Yuta walked to the opposite side and got in.
Gojo waved at his students, then started the Maybach and pulled off.
The ride from Tokyo to Shinjuku took about 18 min give or take, but with the way Gojo was driving. They will probably get there in 10 or less. Besides some small talk and Lo-fi music coming from the radio. The car ride was in reverently comfortable silence. Until Satoru broke it to talk business and give his students more info.
"It seems we have narrowed down the suspects to two foreign Curse Users, We think they are from somewhere in Scandinavian. We don't know what they want yet. But they brought their own Cursed Spirits with them, while also collecting the local ones." Gojo said in a professional manner, which sounded odd on him.
"They have to be collecting the spirits for some reason...could they be cultivating some type of cult or hive or studying them for something else?" Okkotsu theorized out loud in a calm voice, his sixth sense was telling him. Whatever these Curse Users were up to, wasn't good for not just him and Maki. But for all sorcerers and sorceresses in Japan. The young swordsman was starting to believe there was something more to this mission than a simple exorcism.
Yuta looked up and saw his cousin looking at him through the rearview mirror, sky blue eyes piercing into his navy blue ones. Despite the shades the white haired sorcerer wore. He got what his older cousin was saying without him actually saying it.
"Or they could be building a militia to attack the schools. Both Tokyo and Kyoto." Maki chimed in her standard blunt tone. Arms folded looking out the left window with a light scowl on her face. Her gut was telling her something a bit more...wicked was at work.
"Also be careful while in Shinjuku, especially at night. It's safer than a city like Ikebukuro. There are love hotels, clubs, and other seedy establishments in the area, but they are concentrated into specific parts of the neighborhood, so as long as you avoid those, you should be relatively safe. And while I don't doubt at all your abilities or skills at all as sorcerers. I still think you guys could use a chaperone." Utahime spoke in an even but concerned voice. Turning slightly in her seat to face the pair.
Seeing the young couple's faces, she gave them a warm reassuring smile.
"But Satoru has more than reassured you two can take care of yourselves and the situation." The Kyoto Teacher said with a kind belief.
"Absolutely! They are taught and trained by The Great Gojo after all! The Strongest Sorceress declared with enthusiasm. Which earned annoyed sighs and looks from both Maki and Utahime and a small laugh and smile from Yuta.
The rest of the drive was in casual conversation and comfortable silence.
They arrived in the bustling metropolis a little past noon. It was a warm sunny day. The streets were active with shoppers, workers and other entertainment, making the Jujutsu Sorcerers and Sorceresses look out their respective windows to sightsee. Even Gojo, who got reprimanded by his girlfriend to pay more attention to the road.
The Strongest Sorcerer pulled up and parked in front of the Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Hotel, it was one of the premier hotels in Shinjuku. A steel structure and steel-reinforced concrete construction, 13 floors above ground with 362 guest rooms. With Yuta and Maki's room being on the 10th floor.
Getting out of the car, Yuta grabbed his and Maki's luggage. While the senpais went to check in with the receptionist about the reservations Satoru had made.
The First Years didn't have to wait long in the luxurious lobby, as their teacher returned soon after with two key cards in hand. Handing each one to his students, Gojo asked Maki to join Iori at the receptionist's desk to help iron out more details on their stay here. While he helped Yuta with the bags to their room.
The pair got in the sizable elevator and rode the lift to the 10th floor in mostly silence. Save for the elevator music and Satoru humming along with it.
They went to the 10th floor fairly quickly, walked down the well kept hallway until they got to the 6th door on the right. Yuta opened the cream colored door and was met with a spacious opulent room. A deep gray plush rug was laid over polished hardwood floors, stylish coffee chair, leg rest and table. That matched the color of the rug, a king sized bed with lavish blankets and sheets. That it could fit four grown adults at once. With a 40 inch tv on a nearly 50 inch bronze dresser.
The room was capped off by a large window and balcony, giving them an excellent view of the city.
The Strongest Sorcerer let out an impressive whistle at the luxurious room.
"Man! I have excellent taste! This is definitely the type of getaway that can help a blossoming romance fully bloom. Satoru said in an upbeat voice, seating the bags and opening the sliding glass doors and stepping out onto the balcony.
"So you got a single bed on purpose didn't you?" Okkotsu asked evenly. He figured his cousin would pull something like this, having already made up to sleep on the floor or chair and give Maki the bed.
He placed Maki's bags on the bed and began putting away his stuff, feeling the sorceress would want to put away her own personal belongings.
"Of course not, they only had single bed rooms. It just happened to be a simple coincidence." Gojo replied in a voice that was too sugary innocence for Yuta's liking.
"Oh by the way. I put some extra protection in your bag for you while you were freshening up." The older man said, with more cheekiness in voice than usual. Pointing at the side of his protégé's bag.
The young sorcerer opened the small side compartment with curiosity, wondering what his cousin was up to. And was shocked and surprised to find a roll of condoms, at least twenty of them.
Looking between the rubbers and the older sorcerer with disbelief, he quickly stuffed them back in his bag. As he heard the door open, with Maki and Utahime walked through it.
The specs wearing and scarred sorceress looked between the two males with confused questioning gazes. Before Maki gave a tiny shrug and went to unpack her belongings. Utahime lingered by the door a bit more, keeping her questioning gaze on her lover a tad longer. She was about to approach Maki and help her unpack, when the sound of Gojo clapping his hands stopped her.
"Well we best be going darling and let these two get settled in." Gojo said upbeat, walking towards the door.
"But I thought we could help them…." Iori didn't finish her sentence. As she was gently grabbed by her arm and was being pulled to the exit. Despite her protest, being told that the younger sorcerers got it covered.
Before fully shutting the door, the white haired popped his head through the creak to say one more thing.
"Oh Yeah I almost forgot. Due to the new developments in this case. You guys will be here another week or so. Have fun you two!" Satoru declared before taking his leave, shutting the door with a thud.
Yuta and Maki stared at the door the teachers left through for a second, before Maki grumbled out an annoyed 'dumbass.' Before finishing her unpacking.
Yuta let out a tiny chuckle at the whole scene, already done with his unpacking. The young Special Grade sat down on the bed and waited for his partner to finish, watching her with a warm smile on his face.
"Even when she's just doing simple things like putting clothes and luggage. She moves with pure grace." Okkotsu thought with veneration.
When she was done. Maki turned to her partner who was viewing her with a sweet warm smile, that was heating up her stomach and making the butterflies in it dance more.
"What!?" The elder Zenin twin asked, turning to hide her blush and to get a bottle of water from the minibar. Hoping it would cool her down some.
"Nothing….Nothing at all. You're just….incredible Maki." Yuta said with clear pride and joy in his voice.
"Idiot…" Maki grumbled, keeping her back to her teammate to hide her cherry colored cheeks. Drinking her water with long gulps.
Laughing lightly to himself, the Special Grade grabbed his sword and got to his feet.
"Now that we're all settled in. Maybe we should go investigate the city some, get a feel for it and ask a couple questions." Yuta suggested coolly, he was making his way to the door. When his path was blocked by a stern Maki, who had her hands on her hips giving him a hard stare.
"Ummm….did I do something M-Maki?" Okkotsu asked nervously, the scrutinizing golden eyes of the sorceress made him feel more apprehensive.
"You could say that…How much sleep did you get before we left? The Dark Green haired girl, questioningly. The answer she received was the special grade looking uneasy around the room, avoiding her eyes.
"Nevermind it doesn't matter. We can go on patrol after you take a nap for a few hours." Maki spoke matter-of-factly, walking to the Chabudai in the middle of the room to get Yuta's gift. Having leaned it up against the table when she first entered the room.
Yuta was about to protest but the steely frown shot his way by his partner, let him know it was non-negotiable. So he simply capitulated with a deep sigh.
Leaning his sword up against the dresser, he was about to unbutton white jacket. When Maki stepped into his view carrying a case made of Hinoki cypress.
"I….I-I had this made for you. I really hope you like it, Yuta!" Maki said with soft shyness but also sweet genuineness. Not used to feeling this type of nervousness, anxiousness or excitement. She wasn't sure she loved or hated it.
Yuta looked between Maki and the case she was presenting him with confused wonderment for a moment. It was highly unusual seeing this side of Maki, but Yuta kind of liked it. He took the case and thanked her very kindly.
Sitting down in the nearby chair, Yuta opened the case carefully, gasping in amazement at what the case contained. Slowly picking it up out of the case, he studied the most gorgeous sword he ever saw. Black scabbard decorated with green flowers, gold tsuba and green cord handle with white ray-skin wrap.
Pulling the blade out of it's saya, it sang softly as he did so. Yuta could tell that the steel was razor edge sharp, that even the normal average swordsman could cut through steel. He could also tell that this sword was vastly different than the ones he previously wielded.
"Does it have a name?" Yuta asked still in astonishment
"I call it 'Knowledge God'. It's nothing like the other blades you owned. They might as well be flimsy pieces of trash compared to this." Maki stated proudly, getting back to her usual self.
Yuta was sheathing his new sword when he caught the small haiku on the mune of the katana.
"Pure of purpose, prepared to face death." Okkotsu read out loud, before fully sheathing Knowledge God. His heart was filled with the deepest sense of gratitude, love, respect and appreciation. He hadn't felt anything like this since he was young and his parents were still alive or when he was with his little sister.
Walking up to the sorceress, Yuta gave her the strongest hug he was capable of. Thanking her from the deepest depths of his heart.
"Thank You Maki! Thank You So Very Much! I love It!" Yuta said with profound gratefulness in his voice. His heart almost burst when she returned his hug with equal tightness.
After long moments passed, she pulled back and gazed upon Yuta fondly. Perhaps it was the unalloyed look of love and veneration the swordsman regarded her with. But the longing in her heart became magnetic.
So Maki took her hands from around her partner's waist and placed them firmly in his onyx colored hair. And drew him in for a strong passionate kiss.
Yuta was surprised and shocked at first, but the soft, strong rich flavored lips were molding into submission. So he yielded to the passion.
