Please Read!
I have changed Makoto's current age to 6, I was re-reading the prologue and saw I forgot to change his age from 4 to 6 lol, my bad!
Plane of Absolution
Chapter 2:
Spare
"Makoto-sama's son has been found!"
"He has a son?!" Kanako gasped, covering her mouth in shock, "But what about master Makoto? Has he been found?"
Atsuko halted her animated behavior and flattened her lips to give her friend a thin smile, confirming the negative without words. Upon seeing her friend's silent frown, Kanako lets out a disappointed sigh.
"At the very least, a part of the master came back home," Akemi added while patting her friends' backs, trying to uplift the situation with a bright smile.
"Yes, you're right! We shouldn't be so down!" Atsuko exclaimed, shaking her head to remove negative thoughts, immediately bouncing back to her usual cheery demeanor, "This is a happy celebration! We must prepare for the young master's return!"
"How did they find the young master?" Akemi asked, looking at her friend for more details.
"Young master Satoru found him by accident!" Atsuko confirmed, body shaking in excitement, "During a mission, they found him unconscious, he was suffering from severe cursed energy exhaustion but fortunately, Satoru-sama found him just in time- but that's not even the juiciest part!"
Akemi and Kanako waited with bated breath for their friend's next words.
"The young master has activated an ocular jujutsu technique!"
GASP!
The young servants both dropped the laundry they were carrying in shock from the overwhelming information; the items lay forgotten on the floor as they both crowded around Atsuko trying to get more from her.
"An ocular jujutsu?!"
"But how?! Is it another Six Eyes?!"
"That's impossible, Akemi-chan! Only one Six Eye can exist at a time!" Kanako chastised her friend, slapping her lightly on her arm, "It has to be a new one!"
"As of right now, it's still unknown what it is." Atsuko replied, leaning closer to whisper conspiratorially to her friends, "The elders are still working on that, but whatever it is, it's powerful."
"Oh my! Another blessing to the clan!"
"Not only do we have Satoru-sama but also Makoto-sama's son!" Akemi exclaimed excitedly, palms covering her mouth, barely covering an ecstatic grin, "Two blessed children in one generation! The gods truly favor the Gojo clan!"
"Yep! According to the reports, the young master managed to exorcise everythi-"
Ahem.
They all gasped in shock, turning around already prepared to apologize for gossiping but when they saw that it was just Junko-san they promptly relaxed- well most of them.
"Junko-san!" Kanako screeched, already posturing herself to the ground, "We're incredibly sorry for gossiping about the master's business! It won't happen again!"
"Kanako-chan! Don't worry it's just Junko-san!" Atsuko laughed, bending down to convince her friend to stand up. "Come on you silly girl, stand up!"
"She won't punish us- well that harshly," Akemi added sheepishly, joining her friend in supporting the nervous wreck that is Kanako.
"It seems that I have been too lenient on you, young ladies." The older woman groaned, looking disappointedly at her three apprentices, "While I understand this excitement of yours, gossiping about the masters is something we mere servants mustn't do."
"Junko-san! Come on this is a festive occasion, let's lighten up!" Atsuko reasoned, pouting petulantly at the older servant, "Besides, shouldn't you be the happiest about this?"
"Mhmm! By the grace of the gods the lost son has returned to the clan safe and sound!" Akemi agreed, nodding sagely to their logical reasoning.
Kanako remained silent, nervously looking at her fellow servants back and forth, praying that Junko-san can be forgiving and indulge her friends' casual insubordination instead of assigning them back-breaking labor as punishment.
Junko just narrowed her eyes at them, trying to intimidate them into submission, but only a few seconds later, she instantly surrendered. There's really no point in trying to be strict with them- especially since she doesn't want to ruin their collective good mood.
Atsuko was right, Junko is indeed very happy.
Probably the happiest she's been in the last 7 or so years since master Makoto's disappearance. Today is truly no time to be harsh on her apprentices, she'll let them go for now.
"Fine, but only for today." Junko sighed as the girls immediately brightened from her statement. Kanako let out a huge sigh of relief while her friends boisterously celebrated, giddily joining hands.
"But that doesn't mean we must abandon our duties." She continued, pointing at the disregarded laundry on the floor, "Especially today of all days! The young master is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, we still have plenty of things to prepare for his arrival!"
The girls immediately picked up the forgotten laundry, carefully making sure that it is free of any dirt it might have accumulated on the otherwise pristine floor.
"The young master has been hospitalized since he was found, and will continue his recovery here." Junko chastised, arms crossed as she observed the three young servants, making sure they are diligently folding laundry and not doing it haphazardly, "The young master's health and comfort is our foremost priority."
"Yes, Junko-san!"
"Now, back to work!"
Makoto sat silently in the moving vehicle, staring listlessly at the passing vegetation in the window as the white-haired annoyance kept yapping his ear off.
"Still ignoring me, huh?"
The silence continued to occupy the car as Makoto continued his mission of not giving an inch to this stranger but it was proving much harder than he thought given that this is the same guy who has been testing his patience non-stop since he woke up 4 days ago.
"Mako-chan, pay attention to me~" He continued trying to capture Makoto's attention, buzzing around like an irritating bee. He went even further in his schemes by poking his little cousin's soft cheeks. Satoru can already see a vein forming in his thin neck, causing a wide grin to form on his face.
Makoto finally gave in and turned to him, eyes blaring in unsaid rage.
"Mako-chan is scary~" He sang unperturbed, his smile was all teeth- clearly amused by the situation, "Are you finally giving your beloved Satoru onii-chan a crumb of your time~?"
"What do you want?" Makoto growled defeatedly, shoving away the teen's intrusive fingers harshly. Hoping he'll finally go away after entertaining him just this once.
"What a feral little gremlin, you are~"
"Tch." Makoto hissed, turning away from him to look back at the window, crossing his arms across his chest, determined to ignore his presence even more.
"Mah mah~, aren't you excited about meeting the rest of your new family?" Satoru asked, arms trying to go over the kid's struggling shoulders, occupying more of his personal space, much to Makoto's chagrin.
Satoru just laughed, letting his little cousin do his little hissy fit, it's adorable! Is this what it feels like to have a younger brother? He has always been the youngest in the family, it's tiring to be always under the thumbs of smelly old men who think they're worthy of respect just cause they're born a little earlier. Well tough luck on them, that means they're a few steps ahead in dying- if it was up to Satoru, they'd already be buried six feet under!
Makoto finally settled down, reluctantly letting the older teen pull him closer. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, Satoru is much stronger than him. Especially after he's been on bed rest for the past few days. He still refuses to look at him though, he's not gonna make it that easy for him.
"Why should I look forward to meeting the family of that man?" He answered petulantly, eyes bitterly glaring at nothing outside the window, "I grew up just fine without him or any of you."
"By fine, you mean barely surviving; yeah sure, we'll call it that." Satoru scoffed, poking at the kid's malnourished frame, "I thought you were a toddler the first time I saw you. You're lucky you inherited Gojo genes- heroin chic was never a good look!"
Makoto flinched; it was barely noticeable but the Six Eyes saw the muscles on his neck tense. As silence once again filled the vehicle, Satoru wondered if he hit an open wound.
"… is he there?"
"Who? Your sperm donor?"
"… yeah."
Satoru just observed his younger cousin's quiet form, looking nothing like the self-assured, cocky child he was a few minutes ago. He sighed, finally pulling away from his cousin to put his arm on the back seat, neck bending back to rest his head while looking obtusely at the ceiling.
"I hate to break it to you kid, but your old man has been missing for the past seven years."
"Huh?" Makoto said, surprise painting his young features as he immediately turned his head towards the white-haired teen, "What do you mean?"
"Exactly that," Satoru said, turning his head to look at Makoto, blackout shades shifting a little bit to the side, exposing his captivating eyes. "We haven't found any trace of him at all, not even a corpse."
Makoto inhaled a sharp breath as his crystalline eyes met vast blue skies, pupils shrinking to minuscule pinpricks in shock upon meeting eyes that practically mirror his own.
"I see, you finally noticed the family resemblance~" He grinned nastily, it was all teeth and no warmth, pushing down his shades to stare intently at his cousin, from one blessed eye to another. "I figure you have some questions?"
"…are these eyes a family trait?"
Makoto felt goosebumps creeping in, his heart nervously beating in his chest as anxiety filled his tiny body. He wondered if this is it, are all of his questions finally gonna have answers? Things seem to be a lot bigger than he originally thought.
"Well, yes but not really." Satori confirmed, pointing playfully at both of their eyes, "But you see among the clan, only you and I have these babies."
He looked back again at Makoto's wide-eyed disposition, mirroring orbs staring at him unblinkingly, starving for any information he was willing to give.
"And even then, the clan went hundreds of years before children like us were born." He continued, "We're something of what's called blessed children, in jujutsu society."
"What? Jujutsu?"
"Eh, I'm no good at explaining~," Satoru said, folding his arms behind his head, sinking down the seats in a more relaxed position. "I'm sure the elders will hammer it to you soon anyways, there's no point in me doing it. Especially right now when my words hold no weight to you."
"Then what about those invisible creatures I always see?" Makoto asked, not willing to let this conversation end just yet, forehead curling from frustration, "Is it connected to these eyes?"
"Ahh~ I always wanted to say this line!" Satoru yelled happily, immediately bursting up from his slouching position to lean closer to Makoto, clasping his small shoulders in his palms.
"You're a sorcerer, Makoto."
The Gojo compound is the grandest place Makoto has ever seen in his short six years of life. It doesn't really say much, considering most of his world revolved around him, his mother, and their small apartment complex in the slums, but nevertheless, Makoto can understand how much of a big shot his father's family must be just by looking at the sprawling grounds that the property covers.
Makoto isn't sure if they're still in Tokyo or not, but this place seems to be located in some back corner of the world with how isolated it is. It's quite a jarring experience for him, he has only ever lived in small, crowded apartments where people lived on top of one another, practically breathing each other's air.
As he entered the massive gate into the compound, he saw lines upon lines of servants bowing in a spacious courtyard, greeting them with utmost respect befitting their esteemed masters.
"Welcome home, young masters!"
Makoto stared in disbelief; he didn't think he'd warrant such respect just because he was related to some deadbeat, he never has the pleasure of even meeting. He stood still, unsure what to do; he looked up at the tall figure of Satoru, grabbing his sleeves, silently asking him for guidance.
"Ah, I hate this place." He groaned unabashedly, uncaring if he offended anyone with his disrespectful words. He grabbed Makoto's small hands in his grip as he approached the imposing figure of his father, the Gojo patriarch. "Ever so stuffy, father dear."
"Satoru, I didn't think you'd actually accompany him home."
"Yeah, like I'd let you backwater country bumpkins poison Mako-chan's young impressionable mind." Satoru answered back condescendingly, walking slowly in consideration for the kid's small legs, "I'll make sure this cursed clan produces another cool Gojo if it's the last thing I do!"
"Still so childish." The pale-haired man sighed tiredly, shaking his head at his son, "You still have plenty of growing to do."
"Oh, I've grown plenty! I'm taller than you."
The tall man ignored his son's biting remarks in favor of shifting his gaze to his formerly lost nephew, staring up at him curiously with bright cursed eyes.
"Come here, child." He ordered, gesturing Makoto to come closer, "Let me look at you."
Makoto looked up at the taller teen, asking silently if it was safe to approach the unknown man. He doesn't completely trust Satoru but at the very least he thinks he's a lot safer than the intimidating adult. The said white-haired teen just sighed and nodded at the kid, pushing him gently on his upper back to approach his father.
The Gojo patriarch held his face in his palms, tilting it upwards to observe him more accurately. His eyes soften, nostalgically remembering something Makoto isn't privy to.
"You have Makoto's eyes."
The white-haired child glared at him, fury emitting from his tiny frame as he slapped the stranger's offending hands away, clearly not appreciating being compared to his deadbeat of a father for the nth time.
"I apologize, I overstepped my boundaries." He apologized, stiffly dropping his hands to his side, "I understand that this is all confusing for you, being dropped off in an unknown place and being surrounded by strangers that call you family."
An awkward silence filled the courtyard, both uncle and nephew being unsure how to talk to each other. Satoru not being able to handle the tense atmosphere anymore, promptly butt himself in, clapping his hands to dissolve the awkwardness in the air, "Yes, yes, Makoto junior, this is my old man; old man, this is junior."
"I am Gojo Takashi." He said, introducing himself, bowing slightly in a show of propriety, "I am your father's half-brother, making you, my nephew."
"I assume my son has introduced himself to you?" Takashi continued, gesturing to his slouching, unruly son, a complete contrast to his pin-straight perfect posture.
"Satoru." Makoto uttered, "His name I mean."
"Onii-chan! I told you to call me Satoru onii-chan!"
"Sa-To-Ru." He replied, enunciating each syllable with a spiteful glare boring into his so-called onii-chan, "Like hell I'm calling you that."
"How mean~" Satoru pouted, wrapping himself around the Gojo patriarch's arm, batting his pale lashes, trying to appear pitiful in front of his father, "Tou-chan, Mako-chan has a potty mouth~!"
"Enough Satoru." The Gojo patriarch said, sounding defeated as he rubs the frown lines between his forehead. What a troublesome son he has; he turns to his nephew with an amiable smile, trying to make up for his son's misgivings, "You must be tired from traveling, Makoto. I'll have someone guide you to your room, you should rest as you're still recovering."
"Junko, guide this child to his room." He ordered an older woman near him, gesturing for her to come forward. She stepped in demurely, bowing deeply to her master's orders.
"Yes, Takashi-sama."
"Go with Junko." He said amiably to the irritable child, smiling kindly to him to make him feel welcome even if the chances are dim, "She'll be in charge of your well-being while you stay here."
Makoto immediately turned to leave, following the older servant to a long hallway he assumed would be the direction of his new abode, decidedly unwilling to spend even more time with the white-haired annoyance he now calls cousin, when he felt a large hand on his shoulders, stopping him from his steps.
"Before I forget…"
The young child turned and looked up to the towering figures of his two new supposed family members, his uncle's harsh features being softened by an affectionate smile directed at him.
"Welcome to the Gojo clan, Makoto."
Makoto felt uncomfortable being served.
He's been following behind this older woman, who he supposes is his servant now, for quite some time now. With how huge this compound is, it's been at least 15 minutes of walking just trying to reach his new abode. Back in his old apartment, it only takes a few seconds; is this really how the rich lives? It seems so tiring having to go to maze-like hallways in your own home trying to get to your bedroom.
At first, she wanted to let him walk in front, which doesn't make sense. Why would he lead? He doesn't know this place, it's inefficient to have to constantly have to turn around asking if he's going in the right direction. Apparently, servants always have to walk behind their masters. Makoto had to give her special orders just so that she can do her job properly.
He finds this all very stupid.
Also, she's exceedingly friendly- it makes him incredibly uncomfortable.
She keeps smiling at him like he hung the stars and the moon in the sky, looking at him with a nostalgic gaze that bothers him more than he can admit- and he had a sneaking suspicion as to why.
"Young master, this is your room," Junko said, finally stopping in front of a shoji door, turning around to face Makoto with an affectionate smile on her wrinkled face, respectfully gesturing him to enter the room prepared for him. "Please rest for now and if you need any assistance, please don't be afraid to call any of the servants."
"We will aid all your requests to the best of our abili-"
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Makoto interrupted, not bothering to look at the elderly servant while walking inside his new room.
"Pardon?"
"Like that." He continued, now looking back at her to stare at her pointedly, blessed eyes staring at her dark ordinary ones, "You barely know me."
"I was the one in charge of your father's care, Makoto-sama." Junko confirmed, smiling amiably at his questions, "It might be presumptuous for a mere servant like me to say this, but I have considered your father to be my son."
Silence filled the engawa as Junko stared back at him, eyes tearily glazing over something that was not really there, seeing an encompassing figure of the beloved son that she missed so much over the small figure of the young child. "I am just incredibly thankful that a part of him lives on."
Makoto took a shuddering breath, trying to remain calm in the situation. He doesn't want to be mad or create an incident on the first day of his stay here. He paused for a bit and took a deep breath to soothe his irritated nerves.
"I am not my father."
Junko immediately snapped out of her revere, eyes focusing on the present figure of the irate child in front of her "I- yes! I apolo-"
"Just because I share his face or his name doesn't make me any less of my own person." He continued snappily, wanting to clear out any misconception between them before any further misunderstanding began, "So don't expect things from me that you expect from him."
"… yes, young master." The elderly woman answered, bowing deeply in her apology.
"Good."
An uncomfortable stillness occupied the space between them as both are unsure how to proceed from what just transpired between them. Junko's heartbeat hastens from her nervousness, blood rushing through her ears as she worries if the young master can hear them even if it's very unlikely and illogical. How embarrassing, she thought.
"Then I'll take my rest." Makoto said, deciding to cut the tension by speaking out first, hands on the shoji door already prepared to close it, "Goodbye for now, Junko."
"Yes, please rest well Makoto-sama."
Makoto promptly closed the door, urgently wanting to escape such an awkward situation. Once he saw Junko's shadow leave the engawa in front of his room, he let out a sigh of relief.
He finally turned around to properly look at the room prepared for him; it was definitely bigger than the entire apartment he used to live in. There was almost nothing inside the massive room but an already laid-out futon, a tsuke-shoin, a low table, and a drawer where he supposed his clothes are stored. Despite its pretty barren state, it managed to look luxurious- Makoto is almost too afraid to touch anything.
He went closer to the direction of the fancy-looking drawers to confirm his suspicion, he opened it and saw clothing already inside- traditional ones, he noted. He should've expected it, he thought, he came here with only the clothes on his back and nothing else.
Nothing from his old life, old apartment, or anything that can remind him of it. Totally eradicated and in turn, this new family took over it anew.
Makoto supposes this is his life now.
He walked his slipper-clad feet over the tatami floors towards one of the shoji windows across, he pushed it open to air out the tense atmosphere inside the room. Tranquil winds blew across his face as it cooled down any anxiety he was feeling surrounded by the unfamiliarity of his situation.
Staring at the extravagant garden and pond right across his bedroom, he can't help but let out a frustrated sigh.
Makoto isn't stupid, he knows rich families like these don't go around picking up strays in the streets even if they're blood-related- he knows not to expect to be treated like family here. No matter how kind his uncle is or even how irritatingly friendly his cousin may seem to be, old-money clans like these won't be as welcoming as his immediate family or primary servants.
He knows he's just here to be the spare.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the delay! I was really behind some irl projects so I had to finish them real quick before I can get back to writing. It's a bit shorter than intended but I had to cut out some parts because it would ruin the pacing.
I hope y'all don't mind the tons of OCs in this chapter, though it can't be helped cause for a major clan, we barely know anything about the Gojo clan. Since this fanfic is gonna deal heavily with the Gojos, let this serve as an early warning for tons of made-up stuff I'm about to push through just to make this story make sense.
And also yes, I made daddy Gojo actually not be a complete piece of shit. In every fanfic out there, he's always has been painted as a villain, I thought it might be fun to write the opposite instead. Let Satoru have at least one (1) sort-of positive relationship in the clan lol.
Reference:
Junko (順子) – is a Japanese feminine name, written with the kanji for "order" and "child", meaning obedient child. Very creative name for a servant I know lol.
Heroin Chic is a style popularized in the early 90s and is characterized by pale skin, dark circles, and emaciated features- all traits associated with abuse of heroin or other drugs. Basically, it's a glamorization of drug use; I'm personally not a fan of the look and I think Satoru also wouldn't since he loves being the strongest- and sickly isn't the right look for it.
You're a sorcerer, Makoto- I think we all know where this is from lol, the movie was released in 2001. Satoru being a teen during this time would definitely be in-touch with modern pop culture.
Takashi (隆) - is a Japanese masculine name, written with the kanji for "prosperous" or "noble", very fitting name for a prominent clan's patriarch.
Shoji (障子) is a door, window or room divider used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of translucent sheets on a lattice frame.
Engawa (縁側/掾側) is an edging strip of non-tatami-matted flooring in Japanese architecture, usually wood or bamboo. It may run around the rooms, on the outside of the building, in which case they resemble a porch or sunroom.
Futon (布団) is a traditional Japanese style of bedding.
Tsuke-shoin (付書院) are study desks that are typically built into one side of the room below a window.
Tatami (畳) is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms.