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

8th Curse

Ambition over Love

愛よりも野心

ai yori mo yashin

(Gojo Yukine POV)

I'd only been introduced to Ieiri Shoko today, but she already radiated coolness. With her calm, cool expression and her laid-back demeanor, even as she carried out a full body health check on me, she was just so darn cool.

Shoko-san looked up from what she was doing, and seemed thrown off. She brushed her bangs behind her ear and spoke, "I still can't get used to those eyes. That pretty hair, too. And here I thought his mop was one of a kind. Guess there's no denying it – you two really are siblings," she said, sitting back and crossing her legs.

Yaga-san was hovering, and he asked; "Was there anything unusual about your results?"

Shoko-san shook her head, "Apart from a larger amount of cursed energy than what's normal for her size and age, she's the picture of perfect health. And as for that cursed energy, well, a body of that size might have been overwhelmed by the amount she was pumping out to fight with. It could be the reason for her fainting spell, but I don't think there's any need for concern. She probably just overdid it in her panic." She explained to her teacher and I listened wordlessly.

Overdid it… I was panicked… That's what I thought, too. But to hear I have a larger amount of cursed energy than normal… I wonder what that was all about?

…Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was reborn? I did have lingering regrets about the life I left behind, but I tried to ignore them. There was nothing I could do about that anymore.

My parents and younger brother… probably cried for me… Were they able to move on?

And I wonder if Kanna-chan got punished? Had I ruined her life?

I shook my head rapidly, pushing that thought away. If I'd ruined her life it's only fair since she ended mine…!

Yeah…

"You okay?" Shoko-san asked and I looked at her again, to see her pulling something out from her drawer, and she held it forward for me. It was a pink lollipop, wrapped in clear plastic with an opaque polka-dot pattern printed on it. "You were a very good girl while I carried out all those tests. Here. It's strawberry flavour," she said and I took it, feeling shy.

"…Thanks. Um…" I trailed off, my eyes moving from hers to her shoulder length hair.

"What's up?" she prompted.

I blushed, and shook my head, "It's just… your hair is really pretty, too!" I blurted out and in response, Shoko-san grabbed a bit of her hair and looked at it.

"I think it's pretty ordinary," she said, unconvinced.

"It looks so silky smooth, though! It's pretty…" I said, and reached up to touch my hair, "Mine's all short and like a boy's… 'cause I was made to keep it like that and always had to wear wigs…" I mumbled a bit.

Shoko-san nodded, "Well, thanks," she smiled a little, letting go of her hair, "There's no need for you to wear a wig anymore, if you don't want to. Do you want to grow your hair out?" she asked me.

I widened my eyes, and nodded my head, and she chuckled.

"Sounds like a plan, then," she said decidedly, and got up from her chair; she glanced at the clock on the wall, "Anyway, who knows how long your brother'll take. He has a habit of running late, so I have an idea for killing time. You wanna check out his dorm room?" she offered.

Gojo Satoru's room when he was a teenager!? Something I've never seen while reading the manga…

"Looks like that's a 'yes'. Let's go, then. Sensei, see you later," Shoko-san said as she guided me out of the nurses' office and we set off for Satoru's room.

It only took us ten minutes until we reached the dormitory buildings and arrived at the door to Satoru's room. Shoko-san took the handle and pushed the door open.

"Well, this is it," she said as she reached for the light switch and turned them on.

The lights flickered slightly, before staying on, and I stepped inside cautiously, looking around. For the most part, it seemed ordinary and uniform to what I'd seen of Yuuji's and Megumi's rooms in the manga, with a few personal touches, such as duplicate pairs of Satoru's dark shades perched on his table and some left over packages from what looked like a confectionary.

But what seemed out of place was a small pile of wrapped up packages in one corner of the room, with a huge plushie of Cinnamoroll sat atop it.

I moved closer to the pile of presents, curious.

"Shoko-san… what's this?" I asked the teenager who was watching from a few steps away.

She leaned on the wall, arms folded and smiling, "What do you think it is?" she quipped, before continuing, "Your brother never gave up on the idea of finding you, you know? So, every year, he kept buying you birthday and Christmas presents, for you to open when he finally got you back. And that there's the accumulation of about five years' worth." She explained to me.

A lump formed in my throat, as I pulled the Cinnamoroll from the top and held it, looking into its stitched, light blue eyes.

He really did never give up, huh…?

I hugged the plushie, burying my face in its white 'fur', not knowing what to say to such a sentimental gesture.

Was the original Gojo Satoru ever this sweet? I don't even know…

I must be really special to him…..

(Gojo Satoru POV)

Ever since Yukine brought it up it's been bugging me.

Back then, I'd taken their words as truth, and had thought they'd really hired a private detective. But apparently they can't have. If they'd hired private detectives with all that money the Gojo clan possessed, it would've been child's play to locate Sato Kiku in Tobetsu.

She didn't put that much effort into hiding herself, living in the same town as a childhood friend was so obvious it was infuriating! If I'd only known that she had a friend up there I'd have found her years earlier when I enrolled at Jujutsu Tech and they weren't watching me as closely, but nooooo! I hadn't known anything about that gloomy nanny, or how twisted she really was back then.

But the question is, why lie about it?

Obviously they wanted me to focus on other things with the 'reassurance' that something was being done, but how could they lie to me like that?

Why'd Yukine and I have to end up with such shitty parents…

Speaking of 'shitty parents', it looked like dear old 'dad' was ready to speak on it, and what I ended up hearing was absolutely sickening.

"I will admit that there were certain expectations that your mother and I had while trying to conceive a second child. We assumed that the previous miscarriages your mother suffered were due to the fetus being unable to handle the inherited technique as they were developing, but we endured, in hopes of a baby strong enough for it like yourself," he began, "When your sister was successfully born we were hopeful that she had been stronger than the rest and would develop Six Eyes and Limitless like yourself. We observed her in intervals over her first year as it is said that in past holders, though not yourself, it is possible that the full development of the Six Eyes is delayed for up to a year after birth. However, the child reached and passed her first birthday with no signs of developing any kind of technique," he explained and I gritted my teeth, staying quiet to I could hear more of it, even though I hated what I was hearing.

Of course, they were these kind of people. I've known this for most of my life.

But it still pisses me off!

Mother spoke next, "On further research we realised that perhaps it had been a hopeless endeavor in the first place. We thought she may end up a decent sorcerer in the future as when presented with a small, weak curse it was clear she could sense it, thus proving she did possess cursed energy, at least. So, it wasn't our original intention to have it turn out this way. We were going to keep her, we swear." She said, avoiding looking at me, but not looking all too guilty about it.

"However," Father continued, "As the year went on, you were observed to be ditching jujutsu practice frequently to dote on the child. We were thinking of ways to distance the two of you, so that you could better focus—" he spoke, but I cut him off, sitting forward and planting my open palms on my knees.

"You had better not be telling me that you let Yukine get kidnapped, simply because of that! What kind of bullshit are you trying to get me to swallow, here!?" I snapped at them and Mother flinched, but Father remained still.

"Satoru—" he tried to speak but I wasn't going to let him until I said my piece, too.

I couldn't just stay quiet after hearing that!

"Yukine is your daughter. It shouldn't have mattered if she didn't have an inherited technique or not because you should have loved her all the same. Yukine isn't an asset, she's a child, your own flesh and blood!" I stated what should've been obvious but didn't appear to have been in their radar.

'We were going to keep her, we swear,' she said. What the fuck.

Mother sighs and has the decency to look a little guilty. "…It was your father's idea. We couldn't bargain for an arranged marriage with the Kamo clan because of her lack of technique. So, we weren't sure what to do with her…" Mother trailed off.

"How about love her all the same? Let her choose her own path if being a sorcerer isn't hers? And let her choose her own partner, too? You know, what a normal, loving, supportive parent is supposed to do." I jumped up to my feet, glaring and I heard the window behind me crack and shatter, letting the afternoon light in.

I must've let my anger get the better of me. Lost my composure.

But this works. Heh… they look like they're halfway between pissing themselves and wanting to tell me off.

I'll reel it back in a bit, though, before I continue.

"Oh, but how could I forget? The two of you were never proper parents. You shouldn't even be parents at all! I don't remember a single day when I felt you genuinely loved me, let alone Yukine. I was more of a show horse for you to boast about, and Yukine a tool, right?" I sniped.

And I'm still waiting for them to explain the lack of private detective hired! Even though at this point, I can pretty much guess why.

'The child reached and passed her first birthday with no signs of developing any kind of technique…'

'You were observed to be ditching jujutsu practice frequently to dote on the child…'

…That's what our supposed 'father' said.

"You're putting words in our mouth. We've explained our intentions—"

"And your intentions aren't convincing me to let you anywhere near her!" I told them, "Listen. It may have never occurred to you, but being a holder of the Six Eyes and Limitless, being in control of such power from a young age is extremely isolating. Ever since I was little it felt like I was separate from everyone else, and the two of you didn't help by keeping your distance, emotionally. That's why when you told me that you were finally going to give me a younger sibling I was so, so happy. Finally, there was going to be someone who I felt like I could be close to, someone who would understand me and could tear away this isolation I felt. What looked like me neglecting my duties and training was actually the happiest I'd ever been in my entire life. And even then, you let that get taken away from me. Why give it in the first place and get my hopes up if you're just going to take it away from me when it isn't going the way you thought it would?!" I asked them, clenching my fists;

"Unlike the two of you, who never even tried to look for her, I've done everything in my power to search every inch of Japan these past few years and I've succeeded. Yukine is beautiful, brilliant beyond her years, empathetic and kind, and even on top of all that, that cursed technique you thought she didn't have? She learnt how to use Polarity all on her own, and even took out several Grade 4 curses with it! You didn't even give her a chance to show that to you before tossing her aside!" I said, raising my voice as I towered over these fools.

Looks like my words got through to father, too, now, because he finally gave a visible response. His stone-cold face that barely moved finally loosened up and he displayed genuine shock, with a hint of excitement glimmering in his previously dead eyes.

He rose to his feet as well, "Polarity?! Are you sure, Satoru?" he questioned me.

Mother's hand rose to cover her mouth, "That technique hasn't surfaced since Sumire-san passed…" she murmured, wonder evident in her voice.

I folded my arms, closing myself off from them, "I'm certain. I saw it with my own eyes. She used opposing magnetic forces in order to tear the curses limb from limb, or pin them to walls, and even managed to use Polarity to twist one curse's torso to kill it." I told them, and tipped my chin up to peer down at father, "Even without a tutor or any kind of material, she used it expertly, under pressure while outnumbered. I only had to step in when she overexerted herself and fainted. And you wouldn't have even known that she could become this strong, if I had given up on my searches." I drawled.

Father had the gall to look guilty, finally, and he looked down, bringing his hand up to rub his forehead with a sigh.

"I'll admit we weren't expecting you to be so dedicated to your searches, or even find Yukine. But you've done well to persevere. It's promising to hear she was able to develop her technique, even without a trainer or truly understanding it. We will make plans to endorse her training once she returns—"

I lifted one hand and held it up to stop him right there;

"Are you just flagrantly ignoring what I said? Neither of you are meeting Yukine." I gritted out, somehow managing to keep my tone even despite my anger bubbling beneath it. They're really testing my patience…!

Father sighed out in frustration, "Satoru, honestly, enough of this childishness of yours," he reprimanded.

Mother stood up, too, "If Yukine is able to develop Polarity correctly, under the right guidance, she may become very powerful in the future. It's only common sense to bring her here where she can get that guidance, so let's stop this." She told me.

I shook my head. No way are we doing that.

You don't deserve any part of Yukine's life from here on.

"I've heard enough from the two of you. All this time, I'd gotten excited that I was going to get a little sister, but Yukine was nothing more of an experiment to the two of you! Trying to replicate my strength, rather than wanting to be real parents for their second child! I'm glad I didn't just bring Yukine straight here. I don't want her anywhere near this cold house, devoid of love. Your own words have made my mind up for me. You're unworthy of Yukine!" I pointed at them;

"I'll be the one to give her the love and care that the two of you should've provided. I'll be the one to train her. She's already so strong for her age and I'll see to it that she becomes so powerful that you'll be begging to be in her life again. But I won't let you. I won't let you anywhere near her! She only needs me. I'll be the only one by her side. The two of you aren't needed."

With that said, I brushed past them, bumping 'father's shoulder roughly as I did so, and I ignored any useless words that were spewing from their pathetic mouths.

"Goodbye. Yukine and I won't be returning to this house, from now on."

Those were the only words I left those two with before I departed from the Gojo estate and began heading back over to Jujutsu Tech.

I'd have to have a word with Yaga-sensei about some things from now on, but most importantly, I just needed to be back at Yukine's side again.

(Gojo Yukine POV)

I must've fallen asleep. I had been really tired from the 12-hour drive down from Sapporo. Even though I'd slept part of the trip down in the car, I've never felt really rested from trying to sleep while travelling, be it by plane, bus or car.

When I finally woke up, it was to Satoru gently shaking me awake.

Blinking the sleep away from my eyes, I looked up to meet his gaze, absently noting that the sun was setting. Satoru's eyes seemed strange. A mixture of sadness and anger coloured his expression.

"Satoru…?" I mumbled, unsure of what was going on; I glanced to the doorway to see a conflicted expression on not only Shoko-san's but also Yaga-san's faces, and their arms were folded, looking uncomfortable.

I looked back at Satoru, feeling his hand stroke my head gently and slowly.

"What's going on? Are we going to meet mom and dad, now?" I asked, lifting my hand to touch Satoru's.

Satoru bit his lip, and crinkled his brows, looking upset.

He resolutely shook his head.

"No. Neither you nor I are going back there ever again. It'll be just the two of us from here on," he told me.

I blinked, as my confusion set in. The mood was heavy. But I had no context. Did Satoru's meeting with our parents not go well or something?

"I'm not going to meet them? But…" I trailed off uncertainly. If that was the case then what did I come all the way here, for? I don't have parents back in Hokkaido… and I can't see my parents here in Tokyo, either…

Satoru put on a smile – an obviously forced one.

"You don't need to meet those bastards." He said almost cheerily, and I heard Yaga-san scolding him, but he pointedly ignored his sensei; "It's going to be okay. Your big brother is going to take good care of you, and love you enough that you won't even need them!" he said to me, and pulled me close into a tight, yet careful hug.

"Your big brother's got you. It's going to be alright. I swear it. I'll make it so you're so happy, so loved, that you won't even need anyone or anything else." He promised, and there was such sadness in his words.

Wait… What did Satoru mean by that? What happened at the Gojo estate …?

Confused, I wasn't able to say anything. I could only return Satoru's hug, and bury my face in his shoulder, hoping for some kind of explanation.

But not now. Something told me that he wasn't ready to talk about it.

And so, I had to wait.

onigiriri: I hope the chapter lived up to your expectations. I feel like it isn't perfect, but I did my best. Hopefully, I'll be able to lift the mood a little in the next chapter. I'm hoping to bring in another canon character!

Leave some feedback if you have the time! I would appreciate it. I'm so happy for all the support this fic has gotten so far! :') xxx