"Perhaps you would be wise to remember that the strong will pick on the weak, or those who have been made to feel that they are weak. They make you feel worthy… for a time, until you become a threat. At which point they will try to make you lesser in some way, so that they feel less afraid of you."

That oughta do the trick.. Gojo thought to himself, looking Mio dead in the eyes.

She was shocked, that's for sure..

He wondered for a second how accurate that would be, how sure or confident she was in her own strength. Mio seemed like the type of girl to doubt herself, but she was still quite good at putting on airs and appearing stronger than perhaps she is or feels.. He understood that well.

He felt the same raw potential in Mio that he believed he had in himself, though the difference in strength was indisputable, she reminded him of his younger self a little. Growing up feeling isolated, out of place…

Gojo watched as her eyes fell for a moment in contemplation. He had pretty much hit the nail on the head, and she knew it. She did have a certain look about her when she was being genuine, unguarded. He liked it, he wanted to see more of it.

"You know.." Mio began, "I'd always thought similar things to that, but it was always from a bitter perspective.. A 'why me' sort of thing.."

She brushed her hair away from her face and looked up with a bright smile, her eyes squinted near shut and her cheeks all bunched up.

"But nearly everyone I've met in my life has been somewhat stronger than me, so I just got used to it."

She was trying to laugh it off.. Does she want to keep the conversation light still?

"You sound like a right wimp when you talk like that.." Gojo chuckled. It made Mio smile too, and she let out a soft sigh.

"I suppose.. I'm definitely weaker than you though, Gojo-san. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, would I?"

"I suppose that's true, Mio-chan. Though I would dare to say for someone your size you seemed to put up a decent fight."

She huffed again, somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. Mio, in all honesty, was afraid to look up into Gojo Satoru's crystal blue eyes, for fear.. Or over-excitement perhaps.. Of a repeat of what she had forced into her head by Gojo's abuse of her Foresight. No, it definitely wasn't fear.

"You say that, and yet here I am. Are you trying to butter me up or something?"

How blunt.. Amazing.

Gojo leaned back in his chair and thought for a second.

"What's to say I made a little living quarters for you here, hm? No one to come and bother you, I'll bring you down a supply of food, an actual bed.. That sort of thing?"

Mio's eyes shot up in an instant, but they weren't filled with happiness or surprise, her brows were deeply furrowed with distrust and a strange anger that welled up from nowhere.

"What do you want from me, Gojo Satoru?"

Those eyes, I had good reason to be avoiding them..

It slowly became increasingly more difficult for Mio to stop her gaze drifting over the different parts of Gojo's face. He was staring her down with the intensity of an apex predator bearing down on its kill. He was smiling, too, like he knew she had no other option. Which was, unfortunately, the case.

Still, it wasn't exactly the worst option she had going, and it was certainly better than death. Mio decided against waiting for him to respond..

"And the old bastards? How would you convince them? Gojo Satoru keeping a curse user as a pet.. I can hardly see that going down well." Mio chuckled, her eyes still searching the sorcerer's flawless skin for signs of any tells reactions to her thoughts.

"Hmm…" he smiled, looking the girl up and down from behind his blindfold "When you put it like that, you don't really leave me much room for bargaining, do you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I think you'd make a fantastic pet, don't you?"

His smile grew dark again, and a knot formed in Mio's stomach. I guess I am going to be trapped here then..

"What makes you say that then?"

There was a moment of silence, Gojo was thinking about how to respond. It had done him good so far to just be honest, he wanted Mio to be comfortable with him, to want to be on his side.

"You seem like the type of girl who likes being led around on all fours, one that might bite you if they're angry.." he hummed, doing that same irritating chuckle he does when he knows he's pushing someone's buttons.

This fucking guy..

"As well as the fact that all good pets need training."

Mio was a little shocked. Was he offering to train her here? In secret? Her gut told her that was an offer she couldn't afford to refuse, to be trained by the infamous Gojo Satoru… She had so much to learn, and here at least she's safe from Geto.. She had been gone long enough for him to become suspicious, or perhaps he did actually intend for her to get captured. Either way, Mio couldn't afford to let the opportunity that was in front of her slip through her fingers.

"And what would you want in return?"

"Isn't it obvious?" the sorcerer chuckled, "Naturally, I want you to be my pet."

Figures..

Mio's mousy brown hair fell over her eyes and she began to smirk, she was still avoiding eye contact because she knew what would probably happen if she looked up.

"Alright, on one condition."

Gojos ears pricked, she was taking the bait?

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"No more fucking around with my foresight, unless it's legitimate training."

"But of course!" Gojo responded instantly, taking great advantage of the vagueness of Mio's definition of 'legitimate training', "However, I too have one condition."

Mio knew what was coming, the jovial tone in Gojo's voice had totally vanished, and a dark energy evertered the space they were sharing. Mio nodded in response, and Gojo took in a deep breath.

"In return for me training you, you will help me find and defeat the sorcerer known as Geto Suguru."

Mio knew at this point that there wasn't any point in hiding where she had come from, why she was there. Part of her even wondered whether Gojo had infiltrated her own subconscious and seen her memories. No matter, it could be worse, she could be dead, or being tortured. So this at least she had to be grateful for, although the concept of going up against Geto was quite terrifying.

"Oh and one more thing!" he chirped up, casually "Please call me Gojo-sensei from now on!"

Mio smiled, she could tell that his last request was tailored… that he wanted to lighten the mood after such a foreboding demand. She appreciated him for that, she could almost feel her body relaxing in his playful aura.

Mio decided to stand up, she placed her fist against her palm and bowed respectfully to her new master. To the man who might just save her life. With her gaze fixed on the floor, she took a deep breath, setting her mind with determination and passion. And when her lungs were completely full, she spoke softly, like a child.

This is your only chance to ever be free again Mio, so you better make the fucking most of it. She mentally scolded herself before finally speaking the words that would change her course in life forever.

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Gojo-sensei!"

The tone of her voice completely melted Gojo from the inside out, and her choice of words were nothing but perfect.

This is going to be a lot of fun.

He abruptly stood up, nodded down at Mio, and before he could get too excited turned around and walked towards the door. Mio was still bowing behind him, what a good girl.

he was stood in the doorway leaning against the post, looking back at Mio. She stayed bowed, even though she desperately wanted to watch her sensei leave, to say goodbye, to thank him. She could do all that later, what mattered now was making a good impression.

"This goes without saying, but I will mention anyway.. If you betray me, I'll muuuurder youuuuu ~~~~"

Mio smiled to herself as the door closed.

This is going to be fun.