SUKUNA
BUZZ. BUZZ.
Sukuna startles awake at the sudden noise. He looks up from where he was laying on the couch, quickly checking to see if Nobara was still sleeping on his chest.
BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.
Sukuna rubs the sleep from his eyes and slowly gets up. He tries to lay Nobara down on the couch, but she whimpers and tightens her hold on his shirt.
"Fucking great," Sukuna mutters under his breath as he starts walking towards the front door. He growls under his breath when Nobara scrunches her nose at the loud buzzing sound.
"Hey. I have a kid trying to sleep. Shut up," Sukuna speaks through the thin door. He unlocks the doorknob and opens the door, stopped by the chain lock. Sukuna blinks in surprise when he sees a scowling and clearly worried Maki standing out in the frigid air.
She wore all black and had her fists clenched at her sides. Sukuna scoffs loudly and closes the door.
"Don't close the door in my face you ass–" Maki is interrupted when Sukuna rips the door open after undoing the chain lock. Sukuna grabs her arm without anything said and pulls her in.
"How the fuck did you get here? It's freezing cold, you fucking idiot." Sukuna sneers quietly, closing the door and locking it back up.
Maki huffs and crosses her arms. "Tōsan's freaking out about Nobara missing again. I took Yū-chan's address from Tōsan's phone."
Sukuna rolls his eyes as he starts walking back into the living room, pulling the green haired girl with him. Maki protests loudly and tries to kick him in the leg, only to be lifted higher in the air by the 15 year old.
"Stop it. You'll wake up your harpy of a sister," Sukuna grunts out, not bothered by the kicks to his side.
"Let me go then!" Maki shouts loudly. Both freeze when Nobara makes a small noise, rubbing her face. She snuggles back into Sukuna's chest with a sigh, still asleep. Sukuna sighs in relief and tosses Maki onto the couch when he walks by.
"It's dangerous to go sneaking out at night. 'specially in this fucking district. Don't do it again, brat." The pink haired teenager slowly sits down, careful to not jostle Nobara too much. "And wearing all black'll make you stick out like a sore thumb, so you're lucky no one tried to take you tonight."
"Oh, fuck off. You're not my father!" Maki states quietly with a scowl. Sukuna rolls his eyes and sneers at the eight year old girl.
"No, but I don't want your man-child of a father to kill me because I didn't get rid of some of your stupidness," Sukuna insults as he leans back against the couch. He leans over and grabs his phone from the end table.
"'sides, Aneue likes you. And your bratty siblings." Sukuna pulls up Yūji's contact and presses the call button. He places the phone next to his ear, giving Maki a glare when she flips him off.
"You're a rude brat. Learn to respect your fucking elders," Sukuna sneers quietly before Yūji picks up the call.
"Sukuna? What's wrong? Are the kids alright?" Yūji doesn't give any room for the 15 year old to speak. Sukuna rolls his eyes, frowning slightly.
"Calm down, woman! The kids are alright!" Sukuna interrupts Yūji's worried ramblings. "I found Nobara on my way home in a fucking sketchy part of the district next to ours. I fell asleep before I could tell you. That Maki brat somehow found the apartment and snuck out of her fucking house to come here."
"What?! Is Maki-chan sick? It's freezing outside! Why was Nobara-chan alone?" Yūji freaks out a bit, making her younger brother roll his eyes again.
"If Maki's sick or gets sick, she deserves it for sneaking out. Nobara got left at the park by that bitch you told me about. I'll hang up now so you can call that fucking man-child about the whereabouts of his brats." Sukuna pulls the phone away and hangs up.
Maki stares at him with a raised eyebrow. "And you call me rude."
"Fuck off, I can be rude to my siblings. They deserve it, the little shits," Sukuna mutters with a fond twitch of a smile. Maki gives him a deadpan expression before crossing her arms and turning her head with a huff.
"Yū-chan doesn't deserve it... she's too nice," She mutters under her breath. Sukuna leans his head back with a frown.
"She's too kind, not nice. Get it fucking right." Sukuna sighs heavily, glaring at the ceiling. "Too kind for her own fucking good."
"Get some fucking rest, brat. It might be a while before you and your harpy of a little sister gets taken back home," He changes the subject, making Maki roll her eyes.
"'m not tired."
"You're tired when I say you're tired. Go to bed. I ain't dealing with you while trying to keep Nobara asleep."
YŪJI
Yūji glares down at her phone with a small growl. The audacity of that boy, hanging up on her!
She sighs heavily and goes back into her contacts, clicking the call button next to Satoru's name. She'll deal with Sukuna later, she needs to tell Satoru the news.
"What? I'm busy," Satoru asks in an icy tone. Yūji tenses at the all too familiar tone before relaxing. She wasn't there anymore... will never be there again.
"Trying to find Nobara-chan?" Yūji guesses, bringing about a tense silence.
Satoru stays unnervingly quiet. "How did you know about that?"
"Relax, Gojo-san." Yūji continues counting out the cash her girls earned already that night. "Sukuna called me just a moment ago. He was walking past a park in a sketchy part of a district right next to mine. He found Nobara and took her back to my home. She's fine."
"...that's a bit of a coincidence, don't you think?" Satoru's voice goes back to its usual cheerful tone, only with a frozen undertone behind it. Yūji stops her counting, taking her turn to make it quiet.
"If you harm any of my brothers, I will flay you alive. I did not kidnap Gojo Nobara." Yūji's mind instinctively goes into protection mode. "I don't know who or what you are in this world, but I am the one you will deal with. Not my brothers. Is that clear?"
"You're ordering me around? I'm not the one who's found my child twice, supposedly by accident," Satoru sneers into the phone. Yūji feels an age-old feeling flare through her chest. A feeling she hasn't felt in two years.
Her office chair falls back from the force as she stands up, slamming her hand on top of her desk. Her breathing leaves her in silent pants as her rage and bloodlust surges through her veins.
Yūji closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "This isn't Sendai. There's different rules."
"If you want me to swear my fucking life on something as stupidly obvious as this, then come meet me, face-to-face. I'm not doing it over a fucking phone." Yūji hangs up the phone before slamming it onto her desk. She takes another deep breath before kicking the desk with all her strength.
It leaves a giant hole in the desk, causing it to fall a bit. Yūji stares down at the property damage and curses under her breath.
"Fucking hell..." Yūji pinches the bridge of her nose with a sigh before she picks up her phone.
YŪJI-CHAN: Asakusa American-style Diner. (not sent)
Yūji stares at the message for a moment before sending it. She grabs her backpack leaning against the desk and walks out of her office.
"Junpei, I have to meet with Gojo-san for something. Count the money for me if I'm not back in an hour or two," The pink haired female shouts loudly through the hallway as she passes by the unfinished clinic.
She doesn't wait for an answer, leaving the meant to be abandoned building. Her breath fogs up in front of her when she releases a harsh sigh.
"Ane-san, you're leaving so soon?" A young sounding voice speaks up with a small whine. Yūji turns her head to the left and sees a young woman dressed in only a short dress walking towards her.
"Something came up that can't be held off. Sorry, Akari-chan. I'll be sure to come by tomorrow if I don't come back tonight," Yūji speaks softly with a reassuring smile.
Akari pouts and crosses her arms, averting her gaze. "That's not what I mean, Ane-san... nevermind."
Yūji walks over and gives the girl a pat on her head. Akari squeaks in surprise before looking up at the older female.
"You're doing well in your training Akari-chan. I'll have a client for you soon," Yūji answers Akari's unspoken question. She blushes at being called out and smiles bashfully.
"Be careful, Ane-san," Akari says quietly before she starts walking towards the building Yūji just came out of. Yūji stares after her before taking a step forward.
"Akari-chan, would you be able to get me a meeting with Rosa?" She asks, making Akari stop right before the building entrance.
The young woman turns around with furrowed eyebrows and a small frown. "...Ane-san, Rosa isn't someone you want to meet. You won't make it out alive."
"Akari-chan, It's weird for me to ask, but I need a meeting with them." Yūji turns around and starts walking towards the direction of the meeting place she set. "It would be greatly appreciated, Akari-chan. Have a nice night."
MAKI, TWO HOURS AGO
Megumi was panting heavily, his entire face flushed and scrunched up in pain. His illness took a turn for the worse. He knew Nobara was missing, even if he was asleep from the moment Otome had come back.
Maki clenches her fists, bunching up her pants. A blank expression was painted on her face, but her eyes held an icy promise of pain.
"What, Toge?" She asks in a tight voice when she feels someone tugging on her jacket. Toge stares down at her with furrowed eyebrows and points at the open door.
"Yū-chan. Otōsan's phone," He signs before tugging at Maki's jacket again. Maki raises an eyebrow, her blank expression fading into a determined one.
"You're right. Yū-chan'll know where she is. Or she's the one who took her. Is Tōsan in his study?" Maki nods in agreement at the suggestion. Toge nods his head, frowning slightly.
"Yū-chan wouldn't take Bara-chan," The white haired boy defends the older female. Maki scowls and crosses her arms, glaring down at Megumi.
"I know that, but–" Maki cuts herself off and storms out of the room "–she's too nice. I can't help it, idiot..."
Toge makes a small noise and quickly follows after the green haired girl. Maki gives him a side glare while he just gives her a knowing and understanding look. She huffs and crosses her arms, stopping in the middle of the hallway.
"I know. It was Otome, but we can't do shit about it," Maki relents in anger and irritation.
"She made a mistake. She doesn't like Yū-chan. Otōsan's been giving Yū-chan more attention in a month than he ever gave her this entire year," Toge points out. Maki blinks at the information. Huh.
"You remind me of one of my little brothers. Protective and hotheaded."
Maki takes a deep breath and relaxes shoulders. "Distract Tōsan for me. If Bara-chan went anywhere to be safe, she'd go to Yū-chan. I'll bring her home."
Toge furrows his eyebrows, but doesn't voice his disagreement. He nods his head and grabs Maki's hand before leading the way towards their father's study.
This is something Maki needs to be cool and collected about. If Nobara really was at Yūji's home... either Yūji was lying and took her, or she really was nice. Maki hated both choices with a burning passion.
"There can't be that much kindness in a person. There can't be. Mai..." Maki immediately blocks out her thoughts when the familiar name of her separated twin pops into her mind. She refuses to believe anyone can have as much kindness as Yūji appears to have. Yet...
"Maki?" Toge tugs at her hand in worry. Maki scowls and gives him a hard look.
"Do you really think Yū-chan's as nice as she appeared to be last week?" The green haired girl asks as her shoulders sag. Toge blinks at her before glancing forward. They turn a right, entering one of the unnecessary lounge rooms.
"I think she'll stay true to her word and never harm a child." Maki frowns thoughtfully at the statement. "Bara-chan and Gumi-chan grew attached to her and she isn't taking advantage of it."
"We need to make sure she doesn't hurt Tōsan, then," Maki speaks up eventually. Toge rolls his eyes with a silent sigh of exasperation. Always the paranoid, overprotective sister.
Hey! Hope you all like the new chapter! I hope it isn't too all over the place. At least, in a way that does not make any sense.
Sorry for not updating in a bit, had a small amount of writer's block, but only with the last two scenes. I'm also working a lot more, so I don't have as much time to write as I usually do. I'll try my best to get chapters out!
I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! Things are getting tense. Bye!
WhovianWhoudini