Chapter 29

"Umph…. Umph… Umph…"

Gojo paused as such a strange sound came out of Itadori. His eyes fluttered open as he peered about at first, then, he felt his stomach rumble! "Oh, you're hungry now huh?" He paused and peered about once more. "Huh, where's Kitsune?"

"I'm afraid she is relieved of her duties to feed him."

Gojo froze.

There are very few people in this world that could get the jump on him, two of them are dead to begin with! He slowly turned to see this woman standing behind him… she towered over him! Nervously, he got to his feet, yet held Itadori close to himself. "Who are you?" he demanded.

The woman merely smiled to him. His mind couldn't wrap around the notion that she was this tall, this big and yet… there was no curse energy coming off of her. However, his body trembled… it NEVER trembles.

"I am called the great lady by Choso… may I?" she asked as her arms extended out.

He wasn't certain, yet Yuuji was now wide awake and bouncing with excitement. "Uh… just a moment…" he didn't know what to make of this woman, but the fact she spoke Choso's name, made him wonder. 'Hey, Choso… sending you a telepathic message here… there is this big woman in my dorm room and I was wondering if you knew…"

Knock, knock, knock.

The two turned to the door, she giggled aloud as he invited himself in. Choso was panting, nearly out of breath but recovered. The moment his eyes came upon her, he smiled warmly and lowered his head to her! "Great lady, please have a seat. Satoru, you can trust Yuuji with her. I need blankets and some pillows… where are your snacks…" He didn't know what to make of it all as Choso rummaged through his dorm without even asking for permission. He took pillows off the bed, blankets from the closet and even raided his secret stash of mochi!

He brewed tea and allowed this great lady to sit upon the couch and get comfortable.

Satoru stood there, uncertain to it all. He placed Yuuji on the couch next to her, he thought he would climb all over this woman oddly enough, but he sat and waited rather patiently.

"Excellent manners little one, you have come a long way…" she said gently. Reaching over, Yuuji was scooped up into her arms as she placed a blanket over her left shoulder. Satoru froze as he realized what was happening and quickly excused himself to the kitchen.

"Is this really happening?" he whispered to Choso.

He nodded to him. "Indeed." He simply said. Entering the room once more, he left her a plate of sweets and a big cup of tea. Much to her delight, the mochi were to her taste apparently.

"Mmm, such decadence…" she said in a blissful tone. "Even the tea…"

"Isn't that my special green tea?" he muttered.

But he didn't answer back. Instead, Choso took a seat across from the great lady and spoke to her rather fearlessly. "We are honored to have you back. May I ask something?"

"What Kitsune said is true about Yuuji and the cold weather. He won't be use to it until he is a little older, even with his elemental power still residing in his body. He doesn't know how to use it." She said.

Gojo was stunned as Choso nodded. "Then…"

"What Suiryu has brought is perfect," she explained. "The materials used to make the snowsuit for Yuuji is more than enough to ensure his safety and comfort."

How did she know about the snowsuit?

Gojo was getting rather perplexed to it all. This woman… wasn't human, sorcerer or anything. He never sensed her enter his room, she appeared out of nowhere without a sound.

There happens to be this aura about her that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Retreating to the kitchen, he was about to take his blindfold off…

"I won't let you see my true form," she called out.

Instantly, he froze once more as Choso snickered and shook his head to it all. "He is rather ambitious isn't he?"

"But it's Satoru, it's to be expected… I've seen you work… quite frankly, I am rather surprised you remain within this school…"

He was taken aback by her words, so much so he wondered into the living space once again. "Wait, you know…"

"I've seen a lot of things, I witness many lives, and how they are lived, lost, saved and shattered. I've seen boys forced to become men in their final hours of life, or to carry the burden of their families. I've seen young girls forced to become mothers and various, heartbreaking ways. Quite frankly, one of the few joys I have is seeing those look beyond another's circumstance. I see you do that often,"

Choso nodded in agreement. "In the past, we would have been considered enemies would we not? Had you listened to the Jujutsu council and their elders. Yuuji would not be alive, nor would any of my brothers."

"You have been a pillar in many lives, and I know you are aware of that as well. You have also had a situation where you were in a sense forced into fatherhood were you not? One Megumi Fushiguro if I am not mistake, to honor his dying father's wish… such a strange man…" she said offhandedly. "You were only 18 at the time and yet tried to be a father figure to one so young… to a stranger's child."

"How can… how…" he was at a loss for words. It rarely happens for him and yet, here he stands, tongue tied and rendered silent.

Again, it doesn't happen often if at all!

She paused for a moment, peering down. Yuuji began to gurgle. "Oh, I think someone is full…"

Choso once more went into action.

He went to the bathroom and grabbed two washcloths. One wet, the other dry. He returned and gave them to the woman as he took Yuuji back respectfully. He turned away as Gojo did as well. It was a moment later when she said. "Thank you for your hospitality. Satoru, I apologize, but I won't have you recall me for the time being."

"What?"

His mind went blank.

Blinking a few time, he peered about the room but paused as he saw a rather pudgy Itadori and Choso standing there. "Did… I call for you or something?"

Choso smiled. "Indeed, Suiryu told you to bring Yuuji back after he wakes. But it appears your costume is rather cumbersome…"

"Oh yeah…" he muttered offhandedly. "Well, if you can take Itadori back for me, I would appreciate it… huh… I don't remember having tea and mochi…"

Choso merely smirked and nodded as he wondered out of the dorm. Still, this was strange, something just didn't feel right in his mind, and matters aren't helped as he realized his bed pillows and various blankets were sprawled across his couch…