Chapter 3 Thoughts of the Honored One
Trivia #3: Kuma is super happy that Catoru likes her because animals tend to shy away from her since she has an abundance of Curse Energy. And so far the only animal that has liked her is Catoru.
Satoru watched in pure irritation and annoyance as the cat version of himself snuggled to Kuma. The fluffy white furred menace was making itself comfortable on her, practically using her breast as a pillow to which she had nothing to complain about. It was an adorable cat after all, she saw no need to reprimand it for something that it probably didn't understand. So instead she patted Catoru's head, smiling as the cat purred contentedly in her hold.
Shoko had introduced herself some time ago, smirking playfully in interest as the silver eyed girl stared at her in awe. Both of them took a liking to each other in record speed that left Satoru wondering how their classmate got Kuma to call her big sister in a matter of minutes. The whitette was used to being the center of the conversation, that's how it's always been in all the clan meetings.
The brainless conservative old fools who would stop at nothing to keep him restrained and use his powers for themselves, pretending as if the Gojo heir couldn't hear their innecessant whispers and the intention behind the smile they wear as their mask. He would sit silently in his formal traditional attire consisting of a white hakama and an azure nagagi, a haori draped over his shoulders matching the light blue shade of his eyes. He'd listen to their pleas without a single response, staring forward with a blank gaze as if he wasn't present there. How foolish they were to think he'd heed their commands and comply with their plans effortlessly. How desperately miserable they are to believe that they could control a God like him.
Though on the other hand he was completely being ignored here by his classmates and the newest addition to their group, leaving him alone to pout childishly at a random corner of the room. The conceited man-god is grateful that they treated him like an equal, just as how he viewed them on the same level as he did. It gave him a momentary sense of relief and freedom that he was indeed only Satoru with them, not the omnipotent God of the Gojo clan. H̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶n̶f̶u̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶p̶o̶n̶s̶i̶b̶i̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶t̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶o̶n̶g̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶o̶w̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶v̶i̶n̶c̶e̶d̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶w̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶e̶q̶u̶a̶l̶s̶.
Hidden behind his jet black sunglasses is his Six Eyes, constantly watching over his comrades in a world of blurred colors depicting the Curse Energy that exists everywhere. His eyes that they called to be one of the biggest blessings in the Jujutsu world. The very same one that has allowed him to both protect what was his and what was his obligation to protect as the strong would for the weak. And the exact ones that granted him to remove everything that stands in his path. He has no regrets nor remorse for all the lives he's taken. H̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶s̶h̶e̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶r̶i̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶r̶m̶a̶l̶c̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ ̶H̶i̶g̶h̶ ̶S̶c̶h̶o̶o̶l̶ ̶l̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶r̶u̶l̶y̶ ̶e̶n̶j̶o̶y̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶t̶h̶, he knows it's not possible. He is the God of his clan, of the Jujutsu world, he wishes for no such trivial things.
His eyes burn and his head pounds, the feeling of molten iron constantly being hammered down by the finest blacksmith was etched into his mind as the burden of carrying the power of the Gods. The days he curled into himself, whimpering from the over-sensitivity of his Six Eyes while being isolated so that no one would see him in his weakest state didn't exist. There was no such thing as a weakness for a God like him. If he wasn't strong enough to fight for the world, to protect what was important to him, to fulfill his obligations as the God that he was revered for, then what hope did the world have? The answer could only be none.
He sees the world in a myriad of Curse Energy, flaring up in dark shades of various colors. Whenever he stared into the mirror, words and praises ring in his mind. Of how blue his eyes are, resembling the endless boundary of the sky and the glimmer of the ocean's surface reflecting the sun. He does not know the blue color of the sky nor of his own eyes, not when all he could see was the blur of Curse Energy muddled together in his sight. He wonders if it was truly as breathtaking as they said. But all of that was a cheap price to pay compared to the power he gained to become a God, was it not? Was it impossible for him to ask for a momentary normalcy capable of seeing the world for how it is?
The answer was clear in his mind, there was no need to ask but he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander again as usual he supposed. Satoru shook his head, attempting to bring back his focus to whatever conversation topic the other three were having. Instead the first sight he met was of his cat counterpart sitting in front of him, tail swishing mockingly as it stared at him with a knowing look that certainly doesn't fit that of an animal. It gazed at him as if understanding what he was going through and mocked how pathetic he was for questioning himself, he felt transparent and Satoru did not like this at all.
He glared childishly at the cat who didn't seem to be intimidated in the least by his glacier eyes, lips tugged down in a prominent frown as he picked up the white cat by his scruff. If the smirk the cat was showing was anything to go by, Satoru absolutely despised this cat for ridiculing a God like him. He brought the white bundle near his face, an eyebrow raised questioningly as if daring the cat to do something to him. Satoru received his answer in full when Catoru menacingly grinned, lifting a paw up and raising its non-existent eyebrows playfully.
Yet the man-god could only let out an undignified startled noise when Catoru's claws came slashing down at him, and saved by the grace of his own infinity lest his face would've been marred by sharp unforgiving claws. The poor cat was accidentally thrown upwards in the process, screeching like a demon cat as it floated momentarily before gravity did its magic. Though before it could fall, Kuma was already standing there and catching the fluffy white cat in her arms.
A small sigh escaped her lips, silvery eyes glinting with fond exasperation at the mischievous cat she's brought home. Doey cerulean blue orbs stared back at her, acting as if nothing was wrong with its innocent gaze. And without a single doubt, she could only relent to the cutely evil mastermind and shifted the cat so that it would feel comfortable in her hold. The content purr it let out and the swish of its tail seemed as if it was conveying how the cat was satisfied with whatever deed he just carried out.
Satoru, the one and only man-god and the honored one of the Jujutsu world, has stooped down low enough that he wanted to commit homicide on a cat. Not that he would, but he's considering it for sure. Look at the furry little menace just making itself comfy in Kuma's arms without a single care in the world. Suguru and Shoko were struggling to hold their laughter, though practically wheezing on the floor.
"Sorry about that Satoru, he's… a little too mischievous sometimes." A little too proudly, Catoru puffed up its chest with sparkles in the air. Satoru was more exasperated at his two best friends dying with laughter rather than the obnoxious cat or Kuma's lack of honorifics when addressing others. For once he felt like his role was switched with Suguru's and he was feeling the headache that came with the package. He was still disdainfully glaring at the white cat that offended him.
"Say Kuma-chan, when, where and why did you pick this cat?"
The girl in question blinked at the question, before breaking into a smile as she went back to sit between Suguru and Shoko who kindly made space for her. Both of them were trying to pat the adorable white cat to no avail as it kept hissing and slapping their hands away with its little paws. Which only made them more insistent on patting it, just to tease it rather than anything else. Though it immediately quieted down and settled in Kuma's lap, closing its eyes and nuzzling to her palm as she patted the complacent cat. It was clear who was the favorite of the cat. The owner of the cat hummed lightly in consideration, thinking of a proper answer for Satoru's question.
There wasn't any particular reason that she bought the cat. It simply caught her eyes because of how similar it was with the white haired Sorcerer in front of her, in fact oddly almost parallels to a sense that it was off-putting. The same knowing glance and overly mischievous behavior as if they're hiding something much more ominous inside of them. They were the exact definition of don't judge a book by its cover. So lonely and isolated, exuding an air of forlornness as they stood on top of the others and reaching the sky without no one by their side. It was nothing to adore from Kuma's perspective, perhaps even earning her pity. She can't imagine the solitude of being alone at the top, nor does she ever want to.
Catoru was still purring in her lap as she scratched its head lovingly, answering Satoru's question nonchalantly though her tone was more solemn rather than uncaring. "There's really no reason I guess…? It just reminded me of you in a lot of ways."
The two brunettes beside her gazed questioningly at her unsettling tone, though Satoru felt nearly petrified as his cerulean blue orbs met iridescent shades of gray. She held an oddly ancient look in her eyes, as if all the knowledge of the world was in the grasp of her hand and seemingly as if she could see past the facade that he's built so desperately. Though it was gone as soon as it appeared, going unnoticed for both Suguru and Shoko. Replacing it was a small smile that did nothing to calm Satoru's nerves, cautiously intelligent blue eyes hidden behind his glasses as he observed her carefully in her next sentence.
On the other hand the girl took no notice of his out of place behavior, merely lifting up Catoru proudly as she said her next sentence in a playful manner. "Besides, look at him! I even bought some expensive glasses so he would match with you."
"I guess I'll just have to bear living together with that cat doppelganger then." Satoru sighed, shoulders sagging down in an overly dramatic style as he would usually, contrasting the secretly guarded stare he donned. There was certainly more to the girl than it seems on the surface, and he could already guess that much from the amount of power yet cluelessness she held.
Satoru was dead set on finding the truth behind her and until then he would make sure to keep caution around her while knowing her better. Though then again he supposed it was a given since he had to convince the Higher Ups that she was no one to be feared… Well that wasn't quite it either since both hers and the Special Grade Amanozako's existence alone was an alarming threat for them.
All they could do for her was really protect her from the Higher Ups' schemes the best they could. But how long could they keep it up before the inevitable happens? Nor him or Suguru could be by her side 24/7 to protect her, h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶G̶o̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶r̶e̶v̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶o̶w̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶t̶o̶. Perhaps it was just him being selfish again like the h̶u̶m̶a̶n̶ God that he was while knowing the consequences that it would bring.
But she was yet just another sacrificial lamb was she not? If she was going to end up just like all the others, falling to the ground with a silent plea that will never be heard as they laid lifelessly wishing for a peace that will never come. Gojo Satoru is a God known to the Jujutsu world, burdened with the title of the strongest that he shares with his best friend. He protects the weak for no reason other than his obligation and duties.
The strong defended the weak, that's what powers are for, they said. But the strong preyed on the weak, just as he would on those Cursed Spirits, just as humans would to each other, just as how the world functioned with its natural cycle. If she had met her end one day then would it not be her fault for being weak?
He has certainly taken interest in Kuma, but not to a point where he felt compassion for her. That was all there is to it. By the end of the day he was merely a God with a whimsical fascination for others. Really, that was all, right…? He does not admit of his apathetic behavior nor his incapability of showing sympathy. He was a God after all, he had no need for such things.
Satoru's thoughts were quickly shattered as Kuma realized the full implication of his sentence. The shades of gray in her eyes swirled unsurely in shock and bewilderment. "...what did you just say?"
A small frown of confusion made its way to the man-god's expression, not quite understanding what she was referring to. "What did I say?"
"You said living together—" Satoru only nodded dumbfounded, not seeing anything weird with it.
"Hm? Did we forget to tell you?" This time it was Suguru who chimed in, garnering the attention of both Kuma and Shoko who stared at him intently as they waited for him to continue. Which he did without further ado.
"Well we can't protect you if we're miles away from you, so we decided that it was best for us to move in just in case the Higher Ups try to do anything. Satoru already moved his luggages in and even picked a room. Though I'm moving in tomorrow since I still have some stuff left to pack. Of course, that means Shoko will be moving in too."
The two females in the room wore a matching blank smile, dumbfounded by the whole situation as they said the exact same words. "I never heard anything about this…"
As if capable of understanding what just transpired, Catoru hissed as it got off of Kuma's laps and just shot to Satoru who screamed as the cat practically pounced at him. Catoru just kept hissing and attempting to scratch at him all the while floating on top of the infinity Satoru conjured to protect himself. He's probably more afraid of this cat rather than the Cursed Spirits he faces daily honestly.
A/N:
I made a Catoru themed discord server because Catoru is too adorable. I might open it next week after finishing the settings. Would you care to join...?