Disclaimer: I do not own Jujutsu Kaisen. It is property of Gege Akutami. I only own the original characters appearing in this work.

7th Curse

Farewells and Greetings

別れと挨拶

wakare to aisatsu

(Gojo Yukine POV)

The sky was dark and heavy with rainclouds as we held the funeral for Sato Kiku in Tobetsu. The wake was a small affair, consisting of family friends of Kiku like Hana-san, her work colleagues at the local supermarket, and staff from Benkebetsu elementary school. Hiroto and Hotaru came with their parents, too.

It's also where I had to tell them about how I was suddenly moving away, and Hiroto and Hotaru weren't happy at all.

Hotaru-chan was openly sobbing, and Hiroto-kun looked heartbroken. I felt really bad that I had to break it to them on an already somber day, but Satoru hadn't left much time between the funeral and our departure.

Something about needing to report back to Jujutsu HQ in person about something important. I felt like there was something he wasn't telling me about the curse incident at mine and Kiku's house, but he was already being so flexible for me that I didn't want to press him about it.

After the cremation was completed, the funeral finished up relatively quickly. Hana-san said she would be keeping Kiku's ashes, because Kiku didn't have any family to take it. She said she would add Kiku's ashes to her family's shrine, and if I was ever back in Tobetsu again, I was welcome to come to her parents' house to pay respects at their family shrine.

Outside of the crematorium, after parting ways with Hana-san with a tight, warm hug and a kiss on my forehead, there were only myself, Satoru, and Hiroto and Hotaru's family.

Hotaru-chan was still sniffling, and stepped closer, clutching at my sleeve.

"Does Himawari-chan really, really have to go?" she asked me shakily.

The fact that I was kidnapped and that my name, appearance and even birthday had been made up was too much for the twins to take in, so I'd decided to let them keep calling me Himawari.

It could be like my nickname that only they could call me, at least until they were old enough to understand the situation better.

I smiled sadly to Hotaru-chan, "I really, really have to go. I wish I didn't, but my big brother and my real mom and dad are waiting for me back in Tokyo. I can't stay here since I don't have family here." I told her softly.

"I-I still don' get it, though…" she pouted.

"W-Will you come back… to visit?" Hiroto-kun asked hesitantly.

"I don't know when I'll be able to," I admitted and Hiroto-kun looked like he was going to cry, "But I know you guys' address and house phone number! I'll send letters, or call you guys, if that's okay with my family," I said and glanced back to Satoru.

He put together his index finger and thumb with a smile, nodding, "It's okay!" he agreed and I smiled, relieved, and turned back to the twins.

They looked a little relieved as well and nodded.

"You gotta call as s-soon as you get there!" Hotaru-chan cried, and her father put his hand on top of her head with an exasperated smile.

"Now, now, Hotaru. I'm sure she'll need to settle in first. She'll call you when she's all set up in Tokyo. Ok?" he said gently.

His wife nodded, "I'm sure your friend is going to have a lot of new things to get used to," she said, and looked to Satoru and I, "Please take good care of her. There's probably a lot of things she's not saying out loud, that she's worried about." She said to Satoru.

Satoru nodded his head, "Naturally!" he stepped closer to me, and put his hand on my head, "I'm her big brother. And there's a lot I've missed out on. I'm going to take really good care of her, and make up for the time together we've lost. She's in the safest hands." He reassured.

Hotaru-chan and Hiroto-kun's parents nodded, and urged their kids to say goodbye as Satoru and I needed to go.

Tearfully, the three of us parted ways for the foreseeable future and I followed Satoru to the black car that would take us on the long trip to Tokyo. Any of my belongings that were special were already packed up in the back of the car, and Satoru had told me that any other essentials would be purchased in Tokyo.

And so, we set off, to home.

Butterflies started fluttering in my stomach, at the thought of what our parents would be like, when we met in Tokyo for, for me, the very first time.

What would they be like?

And did they really look for me, or is it as I feared?

Will they welcome me home tearfully me as their long-lost daughter, or as a… reject who didn't turn out as strong as my older brother?

"Nervous?" Satoru asked me, and I looked up to him from my seat in the car.

"Very," I admitted and he sighed, but not unkindly.

He petted my head gently, leaning closer, "Don't worry about it. No matter what happens when we get home, I'm always going to be at your side, from now on." Satoru said to me softly.

I pursed my lips, feeling a little touched, a little reassured. But at the same time, his words felt a little like foreshadowing.

I only read up until a certain point of the manga, but beyond that, only Akutami knew what would come next.

Apart from that, I knew that eventually Satoru and I would be pulled apart a second time, and this time, it'd be him that was taken away.

I leaned closer to him, anxious.

I'd have to make the absolute most of our time together, as well as get so strong that I won't have to be afraid even when that time comes. Or maybe there's even a way for me to save Satoru…? Well… whatever happens I don't want to give up, just like he never gave up on me.

I'd thought we'd be heading straight for the Gojo estate, so I was surprised when instead, we pulled up at the gates to Tokyo's Branch of Jujutsu Metropolitan Curse Technical College, or Jujutsu Tech for short.

The school I'd be attending one day, hopefully alongside Megumi, Yuuji and Nobara if my calculations on timelines and ages were correct.

We were greeted underneath a Torii gate by a large tanned man with dark brown hair and sunglasses, his arms folded behind his back and his stance straight as a nail.

As we climbed the steps up to him, my hand safely held in Satoru's, my big brother waved with his free arm cheerfully.

"Sensei! Sorry about how short notice this is, haha!" he said brightly.

"Well, I've come to expect this kind of behaviour from you at this point, Satoru," he said, sounding a little tired.

Satoru moved his free hand to touch the back of his head, "Ah, is that so?" he commented.

This was Yaga Masamichi, I realised as his head dipped to look down at me. In the main story, he was the headmaster of this branch of Jujutsu Tech, but currently, he was actually Satoru's teacher.

He knelt down to meet me closer to my height, "So this is her, Satoru? The little sister you always told me you'd never stop searching for until you found. She was in Tobetsu this whole time?" he asked, then held out an open hand; "It's nice to meet you. I'm Yaga, your brother's teacher here at Jujutsu Tech." he introduced.

I felt a little nervous, since he was so big, but I grabbed on to some his fingers and shook, "I-I'm, uh… Gojo Yukine." I hesitantly replied, "It's nice to meet you, too." I added, and he nodded and stood back up.

Satoru was beaming, looking proud of himself, "Did you ever doubt I could do it, sensei?! If I say I'm gonna do something, I'm gonna do it." He said happily.

"Well… I was more doubting that you could convince her to follow you, especially after hearing from Sawamura how you handled your first meeting with her." He said and Satoru flinched, then pouted.

"I got excited, okay? I think my reaction was reasonable." He sulked.

Yaga-san just looked at him, not responding, and shook his head, moving on, "I'll be able to watch her for a few hours while you do what you need to do. But don't be late, coming back." He said to Satoru and I blinked up at the two of them.

I was being left here for a while? But why?

"I won't be late!" Satoru said.

"Your track record says otherwise." Yaga-san commented.

"I really won't be late, this time! It's Yukine, after all!" my brother insisted, and squatted down in front of me, patting my white hair gently, "I'm going to go have a talk with our mother and father on my own first. My sensei here's gonna take good care of you while I do that. Don't worry, I trust him. So, be good, okay? We'll go home in a few hours." He said to me.

I frowned, "What's going on?" I asked him.

"Nothing! Just some serious adult talk – it'll be too boring for a kid your age!" Satoru said with a big grin, though I could tell he was faking it.

Something was definitely going on.

He was worried about me meeting our parents right away…

Before I could say anything back again, Satoru stood up and nodded to Yaga-san. Satoru waved me off, grinning goofily as he did, and stopping several times to turn back and wave at me again until finally, he was out of sight.

Yaga-san pinched his nose, sighing, "That boy…" he murmured, and turned to me, "Well, shall we go? Your big brother will be back soon, don't worry. Until then, I can introduce you to someone," he suggested.

Hesitantly, I followed him, "Who?" I asked him.

"A classmate of Satoru's. She's going to check you over to make sure you're healthy." Yaga-san responded.

I widened my eyes. That must be Shoko! Ieiri Shoko!

"Okay!" I said, suddenly feeling a little less nervous about all of this.

But even as I followed Yaga-san on our way to meet Shoko-san, I was still wondering about what kind of 'adult talk' Satoru was having with our parents.

(Gojo Satoru POV)

After leaving Yukine with Yaga-sensei, I had someone drive me over to the Gojo estate without any further delay. Getting out of the back of the car, I stepped up to the front door of the house I was raised in and entered.

The butler was there momentarily to greet me after being informed by some maids.

"Young Master Satoru, what a rarity. What brings you back to the main house?" he asked politely.

Not caring for pleasantries, I got straight to the point, "Are mother and father both home? Please have the both of them meet with me immediately. I have some important matters to discuss with them." I told the butler.

He rubbed his hands nervously, "Ah. Well, the lord and lady of the house are currently not speaking to one another as they've had a disagreement since you last visited the house. Perhaps I could set up individual meetings—" he began and I shook my head.

"No. I'm going to speak to both of them, and it needs to be right now." I demanded.

"Young Master…" he began again and I lost my patience.

"I found Yukine. Tell them both to meet me right now or I'll have you fired." I said firmly, and he finally got the picture.

"You fou—!? R-Right away, young master…!" he exclaimed, and pointed to two nearby maids, "Both of you, go find Lady Gojo! I'll find the Lord! Young Master, you know where the room for receiving guests is, right? I'll have your parents brought there, so please wait there for a moment." The butler said quickly, looking quite flustered.

I relaxed a little, but not completely, and nodded, kicking off my shoes and heading to the room he spoke about.

Sometimes you've just gotta exercise your authority to get things done, I guess.

But more importantly, how am I going to get the answers I want out of them?

I hardly talk to my parents, and it's for a simple reason. We don't get along. They never afforded me typical parental love or guidance, or anything like that, so I don't particularly feel any emotional connection to them. They're just some stiff, judgmental old coots who aren't open to new ways of thinking – they're stuck in the past and too tied up in their own self-importance.

I don't particularly want to reintroduce Yukine to them.

She avoided the isolation that I felt as a kid, and even though I hated that she'd been stolen away from me, I guess I could feel a little grateful to that woman for at least letting Yukine have a light-hearted early childhood.

I still hate her, though.

But now that woman is gone, and this is reality. And reality starts with honesty, even if it's painful to learn.

I'd have to inform our parents at some point, and I choose to get it over with sooner rather than later. And depending on the answers they give, or don't give, I'll decide whether or not I'll let them even see her adorable little face in the first place.

Whether they accept her or not, I will always be her side, protecting her, nurturing her and giving her the best life that I can give her.

Nobody'll hurt a hair on her head without getting past me, first.

And that'll be impossible.

"Ah. So those girls weren't lying. It was you after all, Satoru. It's been some time since you paid me a visit. Whatever could be the occasion?" Mother's voice met my ears and I looked up from where I was sitting.

Mother, dressed in her usual kimono, stepped into the room with a miniscule, obviously fake smile on her face. She shuffled her way towards the seats to take one for herself, and as she did, Father also arrived in the room.

Father's face barely twitched but I could tell he was annoyed. However, Mother scowled at him.

"Satoru, what's going on? Why was he invited as well?" Mother asked me.

"I could ask the same thing. Satoru." Father said shortly.

I threaded my fingers together and rested them in front of me, giving them a cold look.

"Take a seat, Mother. Father. It seems we have much to discuss," I began, sliding my eyes from her, to him as they reluctantly took their seats, more than 2 metres apart; "I've just returned from a mission up in Hokkaido. A small town called Tobetsu just outside of Sapporo. And you would never guess who I found there!" I gave them an icy smile.

My parents looked at one another briefly, frowning.

Sparing them the suspense, I let them know.

"I found Yukine." I said and they visibly flinched; I clenched my threaded fingers tighter, "So what I would just love to know… is why it took over five years for someone to find her, and why it wasn't that private detective you told me you hired, but me who was the one who did?" I questioned them, and they started turning pale.

"Well? What do you guys have to say for yourself?" I prodded and my 'smile' was completely gone at this point.

I still remember the morning after it happened. I remember opening the door to Yukine's nursery, excited since it was my one day off training and I was planning on spending it all with Yukine. But the room was devoid of any living being. Sato wasn't there, and neither was my sister. Not only that, it seemed a lot of stuff was taken. Sato's stuff. Yukine's toys, food and clothes. The only evidence of her ever being there was the Cinnamonroll plushie I got her for her birthday.

Probably too big to pack.

I was in pieces - absolutely beside myself.

I immediately ran over to find a maid, a butler, my parents, anyone who could just tell me what was going on.

I met my father in the hallway, and when I asked him where my sister was, all he had to say was…

"…the girl was taken by the nanny while we were all sleeping… focus on yourself… a private detective will be hired… You told me all this. And yet, did you even follow through on your promise? You never hired a private detective at all." I accused them, glaring daggers.

Father looked affronted, while mother looked away from me.

"Satoru, you will fix your language at once. I am the head of this household and regardless of your influence in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery, you will address me with the appropriate level of respect." He had the nerve to scold me.

"You… really found her? I thought her lost for good." Mother quietly said, "Where is she now? I'd like to see—"

I barked out a laugh, "You want to see her? Don't make me laugh! Neither of you are seeing Yukine, not until I get my answers. Then I'll decide if you're worthy or not." I said to them, folding my arms and sitting back in the sofa.

Father tsked, "What have I just told you? And you don't hold the authority to bar us, her parents, from seeing her. Answer your mother's question." He said to me.

I sighed out, irritated, "You never seemed interested in seeing Yukine when she was still here. Don't start acting like worried parents now. And didn't you hear what I said? Answer my questions first, and then I might answer yours." I said, not budging on my decision.

Father glared at me, and sighed, "It seems you're being annoyingly difficult today. Very well. If that's what it takes." He begrudging agreed. Finally.

What kind of excuses were they going to throw my way?

It had better be fucking good.

onigiriri: Sorry for the long wait on this! My life has changed quite a bit since the last one, in that I now have a job! I had to go through the interview, trial shift and induction stages and that left me very distracted from my writing, but I'm back. I'll try to keep updating even though I have a job, now.

I hope you liked this chapter and it was worth the wait! In the next chapter Satoru will continue his talk with the parents, and Yukine will meet Shoko.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter! Thank you! 3