After the visit from Ōhirume-no-Muchi, Yūji had a wonderful dream.
She was having a picnic with all those she considers hers, her children all laying around her.
Shuko and Shino were napping peacefully with their heads in her lap. Satoru was laughing and running away from an incredibly annoyed Kento and a murderous Sukuna.
Megumi and Nobara were bickering with each other while Maki had one of her arms wrapped securely around the ginger haired teenager's waist, and Toge was picking flowers with Junpei and another teenager Yūji doesn't recognize.
A curse-looking man was playing tag with a large curse. Another was walking towards the picnic with some more drinks, and the last was hugging her from behind, napping peacefully with his head on her shoulder.
The dream, unfortunately, gets interrupted by a loud exclamation. "Holy fourth of July weenie roast, what the hell is going on?!"
Yūji lifts her head, looking around blearily. A pale arm was resting over her waist and pulling her close to a warm body behind her. She hears a groan and glances back, seeing a sleepy Satoru blink his eyes awake. Yūji glances back and sees Teresa glaring immense death towards Satoru with Kento wrapping his tie around his knuckles. The incredibly hazy memories of the night before burst through her mind and Yūji quickly flushes a bright red, sitting up.
"Aomoto-san, I can explain! This–we–don't kill Gojo-sensei!" Yūji exclaims loudly.
"Yūji-sama! Have some modesty!" Teresa screeches when she notices Yūji not covering her body, leaping over to roughly pull the blanket over the teenager's body. Satoru yelps in surprise when the force of the blanket being ripped away makes him fall off the bed.
"Gojo, you're despicable," Kento snarls in anger as Satoru rubs his head while sitting up from the floor. He pouts before pointing an accusing finger at the blonde man.
"Nanamin! You can't say anything about it when you're interested in Yūji-chan too! At least I took the initiative," Satoru states in defense of himself. Yūji huffs in amusement while rolling her eyes.
"A curse attacked us on our way back. Destroyed my car..." Yūji mutters to herself before shaking her head. "Anyways. We were about to kill it when another curse came by and saved it. It had some sort of nature cursed technique. Basically, it gave us an aphrodisiac. Sukuna said since it was part of a cursed technique–"
"You would have likely died if you didn't do anything," Kento continues in realization. Teresa growls under her breath and continues to wrap the pink haired teenager in the blanket.
"I can't believe this happened again..." Teresa mutters to herself before sighing heavily. Yūji smiles and gives her personal maid a comforting pat on her hands.
"It's fine. We both consented to it when we were coherent. Reluctantly, I'll have to give my thanks to Sukuna for giving us a moment of coherency before anything went too far," She says, making Sukuna growl inside her mind and Satoru cackle loudly.
"Get up and get dressed. Your chef made us breakfast before we leave for the school." Kento turns around and starts walking towards the exit. "We need to get Yoshino-kun a uniform and have his transfer to the school legitimized, and make sure the higher-ups won't kill him."
Yūji giggles at Kento's attitude before she slides out of bed. She lets the blanket fall from her body and grabs the robe her personal maid holds out.
"Can you start a bath for me? My body's sore from fighting yesterday and from last night," Yūji asks kindly as she walks over to her closet. Teresa gives Satoru a withering glare before bowing towards her mistress.
"Of course, Yūji-sama. I'll get it done right away... will this man be joining you?" She asks in a slightly harsh tone. Yūji giggles and turns to face a still sleepy Satoru.
"Do you want to join me, Gojo-sensei? It'll save us time."
Satoru grins brightly and stands up, not caring about how he was stark naked. "With Yūji-chan asking so sweetly, of course!"
ONE MONTH LATER
Yūji sighs quietly and stretches her back, walking next to a bickering Megumi and Nobara and a content Junpei. She looks over and gives Junpei a small look while pointing at their classmates, making the young boy giggle quietly.
"I bet this is all gonna boil over at the end of the week," Yūji mutters to him with a small smile. Junpei stares at her for a moment before holding out his hand.
"¥1000 that it'll happen after the Goodwill Event," Junpei suggests in an even quieter tone. Yūji raises an eyebrow before a giant grin appears on her face.
"Deal." Yūji turns her head and spots a vending machine near them. "Hey, Nobara-kun, Megumi-kun, hold on a minute! Let's get some drinks! On me!"
"Of course, Yūji-chan! If it's free, I'll take it!" Nobara appears in front of the pink haired teenager with starry eyes. Yūji laughs quietly and walks over to the vending machine to pick out all of their drinks.
It was a hard day's work of training. Even Yūji didn't come out unscathed. It makes her burn with determination and excitement. Years have passed since training pushed Yūji to her limits, though it's probably because Yūji's training is to get strong enough to land a hit on Satoru.
Satoru made that bet and Yūji will not give up. She's been close... but not close enough. Especially today.
Her black harem pants were torn at the bottom, making them flow like palazzo pants. She decided to leave her hoodie in her room that morning, so she wore a red sports bra and a black, sleeveless muscle shirt. Her hair was slightly dirtied and messy, but still held tightly in her fishtail braid. She was also in desperate need of a shower with all of the sweat and grime sticking to her skin.
Yūji hums softly as she starts to put in which drinks she was getting for them all. The hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and she pauses right before one of the buttons.
"So, some second-rate sorcerers want to play..." Sukuna sneers in a gruff voice. Yūji slowly turns her head, noticing the two older students standing at the end of the small resting spot.
One looked just like Maki, only she had shorter hair and an arrogant smirk that didn't belong on her face. The other was an incredibly tall male, full of muscle, and a scar across his left eye and forehead.
"What are you doing here, Zen'in-senpai?" Megumi asks in slight confusion. Yūji slowly walks back over to her friends, standing protectively in front of Junpei. Junpei was just starting to catch up with Nobara and Megumi... these two were out of his league.
"Oh, she's one too?" Nobara asks casually. "They do seem similar. Are they sisters?"
"They're twins," Megumi answers with a small shrug.
"Don't call me that, Fushiguro-kun. You make me sound the same as Maki. Call me Mai," The older female says with a flirtatious wink. Yūji feels her hackles rise at the obvious attempt at letting their guards down and snarls.
"So these are the pinch-hitters for Okkotsu and the third years?" The male states with a sneer. Yūji narrows her eyes and shoves her hands into her pockets.
"We came with the principal, because we were worried about you! That thing is your classmate! Who knows what kind of messed up things he's trying to do to your heads!" Mai exclaims with a mocking soft tone. Nobara, Megumi, and Junpei tense at the obvious insult to their friend.
Megumi slightly steps in front of Yūji with Nobara and Junpei steps to the side. "What are you trying to say?"
"It's okay. Some things are hard to say out loud. So I'll say it for you." Mai looks off to the side, still smiling sweetly. ""Vessel" makes it sound nice, but it just means that boy's a half-curse monster. Having such a tainted, inhuman being beside you brazenly calling himself a jujutsu sorcerer must be revolting, right? Won't you feel better if he dies?"
"Same as the rest of the Zen'in Clan. I'll eat her first," Sukuna growls in anger.
The three first years immediately glance at Yūji when a dark presence flickers into reality for a moment before disappearing. Yūji stares at the ground, her eyes shadowed by her hair that was loose. The two older teenagers tense at the split-second feeling, both getting into battle stances.
Yūji's shoulders shake slightly, making Mai giggle. She places a hand on her cheek with a mock expression of worry.
"Oh no, did I hurt your feelings? Maybe it would have been better for you and your friends if you died during that mission," Mai mocks again before giggling. Yūji slowly raises a hand from her pockets and brings it to her face. A giggle breaks through the tense atmosphere as the pink haired teenager grips her own jaw.
"You're too funny, Mai-san..." She lifts her head, revealing frostbitten gold eyes. "You should worry about what I can do to your mind with my own hands before you start worrying about what I can do as a vessel."
"Mai, don't bring up such pointless topics. I'm only here to see if these guys are fit to take Okkotsu's place. That's all I want to know." The older male walks forward, tossing his jacket to the side. Yūji continues to stare at an incredibly uncomfortable Mai for a few more seconds before focusing on the older male.
"Vessel, what kind of woman is your type?!" Yūji blinks at the sudden question before glancing at Junpei with wide eyes. What?
"Depending on your answer, I'll beat you half to death right here and drag Okkotsu, or at least the third years, out to the exchange event!" The male shouts as he rips his shirt in half. "By the way, my type is a tall woman with a big ass!"
Yūji tilts her head and rubs her chin. "Hm... Does that mean you like Jennifer Lawrence? I mean tall girls with a big ass is my ideal type of woman, but I'd be fine with whatever."
"And my name's Itadori Yūji!" The pink haired teenager adds after quickly realizing what the older male had called her. Yūji blinks again when the teenager starts to cry silently.
"Hey... Megumi-kun... we didn't get hit with some sort of drug, right?" Yūji leans over, staring at the male. Megumi scowls slightly, tensing his shoulders.
"No. We didn't."
"Seems like we're best friends," The 17 year old speaks to himself. Yūji tilts her head with a confused expression.
"When you just learned my name? I don't even know yours! How're we–"
FIGHTORFLIGHTFIGHTORFLIGHTFIGHTORFLIGHT.
Yūji pulls up her arms and blocks the punch meant for her chest. She grunts when she is forcefully pushed back, her feet literally digging into the cement path. The shock of the punch suddenly sends her flying back and she barely has enough time to brace herself before her back slams into the cement wall meters away.
"Yūji-chan!" Nobara takes a step forward, but Mai suddenly appears behind her with a pistol digging into Nobara's side.
"You fucking slut, be careful!" Sukuna growls in genuine worry and anger. Yūji blinks at the immediate reaction, staring down at the ground as pain courses through her entire body.
She suddenly feels something warm build up in her lower stomach, faintly sensing Sukuna's familiar cursed energy. "What are you talking about? What's wrong?"
"Now, now. That vessel needs to be dealt with. If you value your life, you shouldn't interfere." Yūji faintly hears Mai speak to Nobara.
Yūji blinks away the annoying pain in her back and slowly straightens herself up. She touches the back of her head and sighs when she feels something warm and wet dripping from her hair.
"Blood takes forever to wash out of hair. Great..." Yūji lowers her hand and widens her stance as the older male stalks forward.
"My name is Todo Aoi, best friend!" Aoi gets in his own fighting stance with a wide grin, still crying. "Fighting you will be the best fight I'll ever have!"
Junpei takes a step forward, eyes wide with fear and worry. "Yūji–"
"Junpei, go tell Ieiri-sensei that we'll be heading over soon." Yūji glances over and gives the 14 year old a soft smile. "I'll try to be careful."
Junpei bites his lip, glancing at an incredibly tense Megumi. He slowly takes a step back as he nods his head.
Yūji feels the worry festering in her chest slowly ease itself. She raises her fists and gives Aoi a small smile.
"I hope you're ready to get your ass beat, Todo-san. I'm sure we'll be great friends," Yūji speaks casually, making Aoi grin.
"Best friends, Itadori!" Aoi corrects loudly, widening his stance. Yūji smiles, but doesn't confirm nor deny the correction.
"Don't even allow him a single moment to touch your stomach," Sukuna growls darkly. Yūji glances down with a small frown.
"Sukuna, what the hell are you talking about? What's wrong?"
Yūji snaps back to reality and instinctively leaps up into the air. She avoids a kick to her stomach and watches as the kick leaves a small crater into the ground where she once stood.
"Can't you fucking tell? Slut, your–" Yūji barely manages to dodge a punch and uses her momentum to slam her own fist into Aoi's face, making him fly back to the ground "–we'll talk later. Keep your stomach protected, slut."
Yūji narrows her eyes, stalling in the air. A harsh sigh leaves her as she starts to fall back down to the ground. Stupid curses and their vague words.
"Chisato, calm down. It was all Zenzō-sama's doing." A woman with dark auburn hair, brown eyes, and tan skin sits back in a tilted chair, her feet crossed on top of the table in front of her.
"All Zenzō-ōji's* doing?! Aimi, there was a mass explosion in the hotel you're staying in!" Chisato exclaims through the phone. Yukimura Aimi leans the phone away from her ear with an exasperated eye roll. When Chisato stops shouting, she places back on her ear.
"He said something about giving a warm welcome to his new sibling," Aimi speaks calmly, checking her well-manicured nails.
"...new sibling? Junpei-sama?" Chisato asks in slight surprise.
Aimi hums, staring up at the ceiling with a smile. "Nah, Zenzō-sama caused that week long manhunt a month ago for Junpei's welcome to the Itadori Family."
"...Yūji-sama hasn't told me of any new siblings for her children," Chisato states calmly. Aimi blinks in surprise before she pulls her feet off of the table.
"Is she–"
"Yūji-sama has found more people. One is Gojo Satoru," Chisato interrupts with a vague statement. Aimi raises an eyebrow before snorting.
"How's Shō-san taking it? For one of Yūji-sama's people to be from the family that killed her sister," Aimi lifts her feet back onto the table, "she must be seething."
Chisato stays quiet on the other line. Aimi barks out a laugh, kicking her head back.
"No way! She doesn't know?! That's hilarious!" Aimi exclaims as she runs a hand through her short hair. Chisato hums in slight disinterest, making Aimi roll her eyes.
"C'mon, sweet! We haven't talked in weeks and we're talking all business! How are you? How's Riho-chan?" Aimi asks in a slightly serious tone. Chisato huffs out a silent laugh, bringing an accomplished smile on Aimi's face.
"I'm doing fine, love. With all that's happening to Yūji-sama now, I'm doing all in my power to keep things running. Yūji-sama only has until March to be as close to a child as she's mentally capable," Chisato speaks softly before sighing. Aimi hums and leans her head back.
"I'll be home soon, sweet. Only a month left. Riho-chan must be missing her badass stepmother," The auburn haired woman jokes with a wide smile. Chisato laughs a bit louder and Aimi smiles wider, clearly imagining her beautiful wife shaking her head.
"She's still celebrating that you're out of the country. I don't blame her," Chisato teases, making Aimi gasp dramatically.
"Chisato, you wound me so much!"
She can clearly see Chisato's eye roll. "You can punish me when you get home. On time."
"Oh? Chisato, sweetie, be careful! The kids might hear!" Aimi grins as she adjusts herself. Chisato hums into the phone, papers rustling through the line.
"Then come back home on time. Riho-chan isn't the only one who misses you, you know."
Aimi smiles softly before sighing. How she misses Chisato. How she misses Yūji...
"One more month. If all goes to plan, none of us will need to live away from home ever again." She swallows back her tears. "I miss you with all my heart. I miss everyone. It's boring just being a babysitter with my duties as a babysitter."
Chisato laughs at the inside joke. She sighs softly through the phone.
"Be safe, Aimi. I'll call you soon."
"Love you too, Chisato," Aimi speaks before ending the call. She looks down at her phone with a longing gaze before a sudden weight on her back snaps her focus back to reality.
"Yukimura-san! Yukimura-san! Was that Asai-san? Did you tell her we said hi?" The excitement in Itadori Ryūya's voice makes Aimi turn her head. A seven year old boy with blonde hair, innocent blue eyes, and fair skin had his arms wrapped around the older woman's neck.
"I did, Ryūya-sama. What are you doing awake? Did the nightmare scare Zenzō-sama awake again?" Aimi asks worriedly. Ryūya shakes his head with a small frown.
"Onēchan's not in her room. Is she playing with her new toy?" Ryūya looks up at the older woman with wide, curious eyes. Aimi chuckles and gently pets the boy's head.
"Yukari-sama broke her new toy last week, remember? I think she's watching over Shino-sama and Shuko-sama tonight." Ryūya brightens up at the information and releases his hold on the older woman.
"Thank you, Yukimura-san! Have a good night's rest!" Ryūya exclaims before racing out of the living room. Aimi stares after the seven year old with wide eyes. A snort escapes her mouth and she shakes her head in exasperation.
Ryūya was always the more sporadic one out of the Itadori children. Her favorite, truthfully.
Hey! Hope you all like the new chapter!
I apologize for taking a bit to write this. I gave myself a small break from writing in general. I'm starting to work full-time now and I've been struggling to find time to write.
So, chapters might get published more sporadically than usual!
Also, I hope those who are fans of NCIS enjoy my little homage to it. Honestly, one of my favorite scenes.
*Extra information*
*(1): ōji is the Japanese term for prince.
I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! Bye!
WhovianWhoudini