A/N: Hello guys! Thank you to everyone who follows and read this story! To be honest, I didn't expect to be so inspired to write. Trust me, this will subside at some point down the line when I lose all them creative juices. Until then, I hope you'll like the story!
Anyway, this chapter is the longest one so far. You'll notice that I give cues and hints as to what Liv's secrets entail and how much she struggles with keeping it all hidden. Initially, I wanted Liv and Goj to get physical right about now but I find the idea of them flirting and playing push-and-pull games much more entertaining. It also gives me space and opportunity to develop them independently from each other as friends and not as a couple. As Varric Tethras once said, "If you love a character, you give them pain, ruin their lives, make them suffer. Maybe even throw in a heroic death." So, that's what I'm sort of trying to do.
While this story is a love story (among other things) and will contain romantic and erotic themes, I envisioned it as more of a cautionary tale of what could happen if it happened. That means struggle, loss, family dynamics, the usual JJK tragedy, and gore. If you're looking for a smutty, easy late-night read... I mean, you can skip chapters or read something else. I just want to write a good story to the best of my ability.
THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION SO DON'T EMULATE ANY OF IT IN REAL LIFE! There will be some really f***ed up chapters down the line - you've been warned.
Hope you'll like it!
Cursed Love
~ Vow of Silence ~
October 2016.
Days pass quickly as Liv and Satoru learn to cohabit.
The two sorcerers have vastly different routines. Satoru leads a relatively unhealthy lifestyle; his sustenance is processed sugar, and he sleeps barely four hours on average per night just to name a few. He wakes up early and goes to bed late, both of which are mostly due to him working a lot during the day. Being the strongest sorcerer alive has its perks but the workload is tasking, to say the least. Liv, on the other hand, leads a relatively healthy lifestyle; she has a balanced diet, spends most of her time painting or reading, and has a regular workout schedule. The differences in their everyday habits render the time they spend together to a bare minimum - early mornings and late nights. As such, Liv proposed they tackle some ground rules for a start and Satoru agreed, surprisingly.
Seeing as Liv treasured her beauty sleep (and Satoru did not), they discussed the sleeping arrangements first. Satoru, being his usual self, jokingly offered to share his king-sized bed. Liv, expectedly, refused his offer and took the spare bedroom instead. Seeing as there was only one bathroom (for whatever reason) in the penthouse, Liv wanted to be polite and have Satoru do his morning hygiene first, as it was his house. Satoru, however, insisted she does her bathroom routine first. His reasoning was 'to put on her pretty face before he sees her ugly face' (Liv ate his stash of sweets in retribution). Eventually, the bathroom privileges would fall to whoever wakes up first which is Satoru most of the time.
They had quickly fallen into a sort of routine that was comfortable and easy to follow. When not at the penthouse, Satoru would either be at Jujutsu High or elsewhere on missions. He'd send her a text here and there, letting her know that he was having fun. Other times, he'd call just to unnerve her with his antics.
Meanwhile, Liv would visit the Shuuin Manor to check in on the preparations. Most of her visits ended in either an argument with Mathias and Tove or being bombarded with questions by younger clansmen about Satoru. She was annoyed with the amount of information they dumped on her and Mathias in particular seemed to be getting on her nerves.
When she isn't at the Manor or isn't indulging in Tokyo's curiosities, she enjoys the solitude of Satoru's house. Besides her artistic hobbies, Liv loves to cook and the penthouse has a vast kitchen with an open space, perfect for hangouts and late-night drinking. She finds it curious that Satoru never seems to cook anything as most of his meals are takeout. When he tried one of Liv's dishes, he took a liking to it, stealing bites whenever possible. At least he eats something remotely healthy, she muses before she hears the elevator ring. As the sliding door opens, Satoru emerges with several paper bags in tow, filled to the brim with produce. Liv chuckles at the scene.
"You're back early," she says in surprise. "Did you buy groceries?"
"No Liv, I stole this from a lovely granny down the street," he says sarcastically, putting the groceries on the free kitchen counter.
She merely rolls her eyes. "It's just two of us for dinner, this is too much."
"Actually," he says standing opposite her and leaning against the counter, looking suspiciously at what she's making, "it's four of us. What's that?"
"Lunch," she answers before circling back to the more immediate topic. "What do you mean four?"
"You, me," he points to her then to himself, then proceeds to count on his fingers, "Megumi and Tsumiki. One, two, three, four in total."
Her eyebrows rise in surprise. "No way!"
Satoru nods his head and grins. "Yes way! Tsumiki insisted on finally meeting you. She's quite excited."
"And Megumi?" Liv asks, somewhat shy all of a sudden.
Satoru hesitates to answer. "He's coming to dinner too?"
"Meaning no," Liv nods in defeat though not surprised at this point.
"I told you," Satoru says, twisting his face into a dark, emotionless expression, "he's at that age."
Liv chuckles. "You were at that age once, too."
"Was not," he retorts and his voice slightly breaks, making him cough to cover it up.
"Yours was even worse," she rolls her eyes at him. "I thought you'd never crack a smile."
He merely humphs in response. Liv then turns her attention to the groceries Satoru brought and goes through the bags one by one. A wide assortment of fruits and vegetables are inside one of the bags, along with simple condiments such as soy sauce, sweet chilly oil, sesame oil, wasabi, and her favorite, balsamic vinegar. She casts a glance at Satoru who seems to be doing the same, his blue eyes peeking over his shoulder at her back. A small grin, ever so slight, graces her lips. She finds more of her favorites in the other bags: strawberries, dates, figs, black olives, mozzarella cheese, popcorn, and -
"Bourbon?" she asks, lifting the bottle and turning around to face him.
"For when you paint," Satoru shrugs, not looking at her. "I wasn't sure if it's scotch or bourbon you like so I picked one that sounds fancier."
Right, she smirks. "That's unusually thoughtful of you. Thank you."
"Anytime," Satoru says nonchalantly then looks back at her. "I kept some of your paintings, you know."
When she glances around the penthouse, he chuckles. "Not here, dumbass. At the Gojo Estate, where you left them."
"Oh," she says, feeling silly.
He smirks. "It's been a while since you were there."
Yes, it was. "Do you go there often?"
"Not lately," he says, walking toward her. "Been a busy bee with classes and missions."
Satoru notices the way her shoulders slump in disappointment. He knows she loves the Gojo Estate, though he believes her affections are misplaced. The Gojo clan is only comparatively kinder than the other Great Three but they value their blood as if it runs with gold - they are yet to accept a 'mongrel Shuuin' as their Lady. A simple visit shouldn't be too much of a hassle, though, he notes.
"We'll go there after the wedding," he says softly after a while of silence. "Deal?"
She searches his face for a sign of insincerity and chuckles when she finds none. "Deal."
He spreads his arms wide, inviting her into an embrace. "Seal it with a hug!"
"Go away," she whines through a laugh, gently pushing him out of the kitchen. "You're distracting me."
He feigns defeat as he puckers his lower lip and mimics a whimpering puppy. "I thought we were making progress."
We are, she wants to say but instead changes the subject.
"Did you buy anything that the kids like?" she asks as she wiggles an empty paper bag in front of his face.
He scoffs. "Megumi likes anything that goes with ginger so I got that. Tsumiki's not picky, though."
Liv shuffles through the rest of the groceries, trying to find the rhizome. "Anything else?"
Satoru hums in thought. "He doesn't like sweet side dishes. Oh, and bell peppers, red in particular are not his thing."
"Not a sweet tooth?" Liv teases. "It's like he didn't spend a day in his life with you."
"I know," he whines. "Tsk, he needs to do better."
She rolls her eyes as she thinks of what to make for their guests tonight. "They say a way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so hopefully that'll be enough to get in Megumi's good graces."
"Is that why you're cooking for me every day?" Satoru asks before a suggestive smirk appears on his handsome features. "Are you seducing me, Liv Drakon?"
"Nah, I'm good," she gives him a blank look. "Also, I don't cook for you, you're mooching off my cooking."
"Marriage is about compromise and sharing," he sniggers. "Get used to it."
She sighs but doesn't indulge his narcissism any longer, focusing on the cooking instead.
"Come on, Megumi."
A disinterested boy, barely old enough to be called a teen but too tall to be a child, glances at his stepsister from over his shoulder. The Fushiguro siblings tend to fight over trivial things, most of which involve Megumi doing something stupid and Tsumiki chastising him for it. This time, however, Megumi has zero interest in engaging in conversation any further, no matter how many times Tsumiki begs him to reconsider.
"You can go if you want," he drawls, his eyes glued to the phone in his hands. "I don't want to play house with Gojo and some stranger he picked up."
"He's getting married to a woman we know, Megumi," Tsumiki reasons while doing the dishes. "She sent us birthday gifts and pictures from her travels around the world."
The young man raises his fist mockingly into the air. "Woo-hoo."
"Seriously?" Tsumiki whines, looking at him with an annoyed frown on her brow. "Try to show some respect."
Megumi groans and while Tsumiki is still talking, he puts his fingers into his ears, trying to tune her out. The argument's been ongoing for almost half an hour, ever since Tsumiki and he got back from school. He's half-certain Gojo tasked Tsumiki to have them both attend the dinner at the Roppongi penthouse - otherwise, Tsumiki would just huff away at the first sign of resistance. What's it our business if he's getting married or not? he wonders, trying to imagine Satoru in a wedding outfit.
He can't.
Tsumiki forcibly pulls away his left hand, unclogging his ear so he can hear her. She's visibly unnerved, almost angry. Megumi rarely sees Tsumiki angry.
"Gojo-san has been very generous by making us his wards," she tells Megumi as if to remind him to show respect for a moment who deserves everything but respect from him. "Chances are that his fiance is a kind person as well but we won't know that unless we meet her."
Megumi frowns. He doesn't like being guilt-tripped into doing stuff, especially by Tsumiki. She knows that he'll do anything for her, no matter the cost, and she exploits that flaw of his in a manner he likes the least. The two fall into a staring contest, with Tsumiki even holding her breath. Megumi is unphased for the large part but when she starts going a bit purple, he finally sighs in defeat.
"Fine," he groans. "I'll go."
Tsumiki lets out her breath and cheers in excitement. "Great, be ready by 19:00 sharp. Gojo-san will come and pick us up."
Megumi closes his eyes, already feeling a headache incoming. Woo-hoo.
Satoru leaves around 18:00. He has Liv check out his outfit before he heads out, mostly to annoy her by saying she's 'ogling him'. Also, he wants her to loosen up a bit as he notices her pacing around, fixing up everything around the penthouse.
"I'm off," he says finally, waving as he walks into the lift.
"Text me when you pick them up," she calls from the kitchen and hears a faint but annoyed 'fine' in response.
For nearly two hours, Liv experiences what people call the 'waiting game'. At first, she was unsure what else to do; she made dinner (half of the dishes were Japanese, the other half Norwegian), cleaned up the entire penthouse, and dolled herself up a bit, wearing a simple, beige long-sleeved dress. She pulled her hair back into a loose bun and kept makeup simple and minimalist, putting only mascara and combing her brows.
Twenty minutes after Satoru left to pick up the kids, Liv gets a message from her brother. Now what? she whines internally.
From: Mathias Drakon
Just got a report from Tove
Gojo sent an auxiliary manager to the Manor
He wanted an overview of the ceremony procedure
They know about the binding vow
Liv frowns as she begins to type. In the meanwhile, she gets three more messages.
From: Mathias Drakon
The higher-ups are hung up on the report though
Good work making that up
Especially the part about the vow
She sniggers, feeling exceptionally proud of that one.
From: Liv Drakon
Gojo was already suspicious
He only wanted proof
Now he has it
All good
As if on cue, she gets another message from Mathias.
From: Mathias Drakon
Be careful
She sends him one more message, reassuring him that everything will be alright before throwing the phone to the other side of the couch. She sighs for the umpteenth time today. What was supposed to be a leisurely dinner date with Satoru and Fushiguro kids has turned sour in a span of a few minutes.
She looks at her phone again and clicks her tongue when she reads 19:06. This will be a long-ass dinner.
Though he told them he'd come to pick them up by 19:00, Satoru is never on time so when he finally parks in front of their house, he receives a harsh look and even harsher words from Megumi.
"You're late, dumbass," the boy seethes after he opens the door to the back seat. "Why tell us to get ready on time if you're not gonna be on time?!"
Satoru grins, his eyes hidden from view by a dark pair of round glasses (which Liv insisted on him wearing instead of his blindfold). "I'm the adult so I don't care."
Questionable, Magumi notes sarcastically.
"Don't listen to him Gojo-san, it's no problem," Tsumiki beams as she hops in the back seat, genuinely happy to see their warden. "I'm just glad we can finally meet your future wife."
Satoru grins and fawns over the sweet girl. "Aww, Tsumiki-chan, that's nice to hear! See Megumi-kun? That's how you show affection."
"I'll show affection when I want to and whom I want to," the boy retorts, his eyes narrowing at Satoru. "I don't know this woman and I don't care to get to know her, just so we're clear."
"Megumi," Tsumiki yelps, slapping her sibling's knee. "Stop it, you're being rude."
Megumi rolls his eyes. "Whatever."
The boy's unusual irritance doesn't escape Satoru's notice. In instances such as Megumi's disinterest in life in general, Satoru's approach is simple - just leave it be. He has learned that the boy has his unique way of dealing with things and Satoru asking questions seems to only aggravate him more. Yet, he feels a bit offended as Megumi seems to be exceptionally pissed with the prospect of them having dinner together at the penthouse. Don't react, he reminds himself. He's just being a brat.
"Ready to go, then?" Satoru asks, ignoring Megumi's previous outburst and revving up the engine.
"Yes," Tsumiki says cheerfully before slapping Megumi on his knee again.
The younger Fushiguro sighs as he mumbles, "Yeah."
Satoru smirks but says nothing as he turns his wheel to get back in line. Before he could even press the gas paddle, he notices a message notification on his phone. Unlocking his phone, he realizes the message is from Ijichi, and based on the preview window of the message, it is concerning the matter he asked him to investigate a few days ago. He opens the message and reads it carefully.
From: Kiyotaka Ijichi
I got the overview of the ceremony
There will be some dancing involved
These are the wedding vows you're supposed to recite
I don't think it's anything alarming
|file attached|
Satoru clicks on the file link, opening a Word document containing several rows of text. He lifts a single brow. I'm supposed to say all of this? Most of it is in line with what one might say in a wedding vow; swear to protect, cherish, love, et cetera.
Until he reads the last bit, however.
Before the ancestors' gaze and for the time unending, I solemnly swear.
Satoru would've probably omitted the last passage as just an overly dramatic promise. However, he is Satoru Gojo, the greatest sorcerer alive and he knows a binding vow when he sees one.
"Is something wrong, Gojo-san?" Tsumiki asks, noticing his deep frown in the rear mirror.
He glances back at the kids before shaking his head and putting his car in gear. "Nah, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Liv looks at her phone again and it reads 19:49. What's taking them so long? The dinner's going cold, she wonders as she continues setting the table. She picks a set of white plates and matte silverware. She's not sure if either set had seen the light of day until today. There is also the fact that the entire penthouse is so white. Liv wouldn't call the place 'sterile' looking but it does breathe 'serenity' and 'clandestine'. Maybe he likes the minimalist design, she muses. Still, everything seems so luxurious and expensive. It is the complete opposite of the oriental, traditional Gojo Estate that she remembers from her childhood.
Around 20:15, she hears the elevator ring. The familiar unease creeps in and she can feel the butterflies in her stomach. Calm down, Liv, she reminds herself. They're just kids. She fixes her hair and flattens her skirt before walking into the living room where Satoru and the Fushiguro siblings are already waiting for her. Liv notices Satoru first, for obvious reasons as his white hair tends to attract attention. She smiles at the man and he returns the smile, but it is not genuine - rather, it seems ominous, the type she saw him flash at the higher-ups. She tries not to think about it as she focuses her attention on the siblings.
The girl, Tsumiki, is pretty, roughly fourteen or fifteen years of age. Her long brown hair is tied into a high ponytail while her bangs are styled to frame her face. Keep your cool, Drakon, she reminds herself again when she feels the urge to run away. Just stay calm.
"Welcome," she says, and surprisingly, it comes out clear and confident - not at all how she's feeling at the moment.
"Thank you for having us," Tsumiki speaks first, bowing low in respect. "My name is Tsumiki Fushiguro, nice to meet you."
Liv offers a curt bow in return. "I am Liv Drakon but you can call me Liv, Tsumiki-chan."
Her use of the typically cutesy honorific seems to draw a blush on Tsumiki's cheeks and make her giggle. Her brother, on the other hand, seems more offended by the gesture as he rolls his eyes. Damn, she wonders as she takes a good look at him. You're Toji's kid alright.
"You must be Megumi," she says, her voice still as gentle. "I've heard a lot about you."
Megumi gives her a side glance but doesn't outright acknowledge her. She finds the scene funny, reminiscent of her first meeting with both Satoru and Toji. She suppresses the laugh that wants to escape her throat. Tsumiki, aware that her sibling is being rude again, shoves her elbow into his side. He grunts and relents, offering a curt bow.
"Megumi Fushiguro," he says, not looking Liv in the eyes.
Liv hums and returns the gesture. "Pleasure to meet you, Megumi-kun."
He doesn't react to the honorific.
"So, that went well," Satoru breaks the discomfort and Liv is grateful for that. "Let's eat, I'm starving."
The kids seem to be down for it so Liv guides them to the dining area where the dinner is served. Tsumiki asks if she had a specific seating order in mind to which Liv chuckles and answers that they're free to hang off the chandelier for all she cares (Satoru points out that she meant figuratively). Once seated, the conversation starts relatively easily, mainly because Satoru began boasting how Tsumiki's doing great in school which led Liv to ask about which schools she's attending, what her hobbies are, and so on.
Both of them are enrolled in the same public school, with Tsumiki starting her third year in junior high next spring while Megumi is a second year. Tsumiki has good grades, is obedient, and is kind (maybe even too kind). She's not part of the jujutsu society but she knows bits about it as they are Satoru's wards. Megumi, on the other hand, while as studious as his sister, is also a bit of a troublemaker (totally not expected, not at all). He possesses the Ten Shadows cursed technique, a unique skill passed down through the Zen'in clan. Yet, the siblings are remarkably mature for their age, which she figures is due to their unique situation.
She doubts Gojo is present all that much in their lives, given his hectic schedule. At least he tries to give them a normal childhood.
"How did you and Gojo-san meet?" Tsumiki asks after a while, feeling comfortable and being a typical bubbly teen.
Liv looks at Satoru, waiting for him to answer. He merely waves it off, handing her the torch. She complies but she notes his aloofness.
"We were five," Liv says softly, having an image of Satoru as a toddler in her mind. "Our mothers were close so we became playmates."
"Wow, that's a long friendship then," Tsumiki notes.
Liv concurs. "On and off, though. When we turned fifteen, he enrolled in Jujutsu High so we didn't see each other as often."
Both of the kids seem to be surprised by the revelation. Megumi especially seems stunted but Liv finds the reaction cute and favorable to completely ignoring her the entire evening.
"You're not a sorcerer then?" Megumi asks curiously.
Liv shakes her head. "Not an active one. I'm not even registered or ranked. Probably never will be."
"How does that work?" Megumi asks, nudging closer to her.
Though Liv intends to answer his question, she's cut off by Satoru. "Her family's odd but her mom pulled some strings to get basic training at the school."
"Why not go to the same school then?" Tsumiki asks. "They were already teaching you there."
"My clan is pacifistic," Liv smiles softly. "Full-time enrollment was out of the question for someone like me. I might as well be a regular civilian."
The boy frowns. "Why marry him, then?"
The question is direct and leaves little room for ambiguity. However, Liv figures he's asking why she, a non-active sorcerer, married a high-profile sorcerer of Satoru's caliber. Again, she intends to answer his question but Satoru scoffs in response instead.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Satoru asks, his mouth pointing downward.
So childish, Liv notes.
Megumi glares at him. "It means she should marry someone less likely to die young."
"Are you saying I'm weak?" Satoru counters.
Megumi groans and Tsumiki scratches the back of her neck nervously.
"Sorry about this," she says to Liv. "Sometimes, I think they just can't help it."
Liv chuckles. "Boys will be boys."
Satoru then turns to her abruptly, his voice low. "I'm a man, not a boy."
"Sure," Liv says, bringing a glass of wine to her lips. "That was very manly of you, by the way."
Scoff is his only response and Liv chuckles, finding his reaction cute. He tries to hide his blush with his large hand.
"Gojo-san," Tsumiki says, pointing to his face. "Are you okay? Why are you so red?"
"Ask Liv," he mumbles, and appropriately, Tsumiki glances at Liv.
She raises her palms in defeat. "I seriously have no idea."
Tsumiki giggles and Megumi scoffs at her response.
Once they are done with dinner, Liv asks if anyone would like a dessert. She gets an expected positive from Satoru and a polite yes from Tsumiki. Megumi skips on dessert, asking for a glass of water instead. Obliging, Liv gets up from the table and begins collecting empty plates. She feels Satoru tap her shoulder before taking the plates from her.
"Let me," he says softly and takes the whole stack to the kitchen.
Liv blinks but says nothing, instead just follows after him before telling the youth they'll be back quickly. Once inside the kitchen, the tension subtly rises. Liv remains steady and composed - she knew it wouldn't take him long to find out. She also knew he had to come around willingly or none of it will matter in the end.
"So," he says when she starts cutting up a piece of cake for him. "About the wedding vow. When did you plan on telling me?"
"I didn't lie to you, Gojo," she replies calmly, putting the piece of a plate and pushing it to the side so she can make space for Tsumiki's. "Not once."
He scoffs, his smile menacing and his words dripping with venom. "See, not lying and not saying are two different things."
She frowns as she cuts in, "Gojo - "
"No," he shakes his head while grinning to the point she thought he'd rip open his cheeks. "The kids are here. We'll finish this after they leave."
She doesn't fight him and nods slowly. His eyes burn into hers before he walks past her and back to the dining room. She doesn't feel sorry - she can't be sorry.
Not for this.
"I can't wait to get married," she says the words that should be joyous in the most exasperated tone.
Liv finishes cutting up the second piece of cake and putting it on a plate. She then searches for a tray in the lower cabinets. She finds a medium-sized bamboo tray beneath the sink and puts it on the countertop before placing both plates on it. She remembers that Megumi wanted a glass of water so she pours him one and places it next to the plates with the cake.
By the time she returns to the dining room, Satoru has already immersed himself in some story about one of his students gambling. Tsumiki pays close attention to his words but Megumi seems more interested in an artistic vase on a nearby windowsill. Liv makes herself acknowledged by announcing herself coming in. After she puts the plates down, she makes eye contact with Megumi before giving him his glass of water. The boy studies her for a prolonged while before thanking her. Progress, Liv cheers inwardly.
It is 21:00 by the time they finish dessert so the kids are ready to leave. Satoru gets up from his seat at the same time as they do, going through his pockets to find his car keys. Liv makes sure to smile at them both, not because she feels forced to but because she wants them to know that she truly enjoyed their company.
"It was so nice to meet you," Tsumiki says and from the way she spread her hands, Liv thought the girl would hug her.
Flustered, Tsumiki instead clasps her hands behind her back. Liv finds it adorable.
"Likewise," Liv says softly. "Do visit us again. You can sleep over next time if you want."
She then looks at Satoru, as if asking for an opinion. He is still upset with her but he doesn't object to her idea.
"Thanks for the dinner," Megumi mutters suddenly. "It was good."
Liv smiles at the boy. "Anytime."
"Okay, time to go," Satoru says, breaking up the endearing moment by calling up the lift. "It's late, you should be in bed."
"Goodbye, Liv-san," Tsumiki says cheerfully as she follows Satoru.
Megumi merely waves. Liv watches them as Tsumiki giggles about something with Satoru while Megumi scratches the back of his head. After a while, Satoru brings his arms around both of them and leads them inside the elevator. They turn around to face her, with Tsumiki giving her one more wave while Megumi remains passive. She half hopes for Satoru to give her his signature grin but he merely offers a curt nod. Once the door slides back shut, she reaches for her phone, dialing Mathias' number.
"Liv?" she hears him pick up after four rings.
She sighs. "He's pissed."
"I don't want to tell you," Mathias grumbles, "but I told you so."
"Mathias - "
"Listen, technically, you can't tell him anything regarding the reason behind the marriage," he says, adding, "but you can show him why you can't tell him."
She frowns. "Show him?"
As she says it, it dawns on her. Mathias takes her silence as a sign that she understood his suggestion.
She brings a hand over her mouth. "That might work."
"If it doesn't," he says honestly, "you can always make him do what you want."
"That's your way of handling these kinds of things, Mat," she retorts. "I don't want to lose him."
"You don't want to lose him," he asks, "or you don't want to lose to him? You pride yourself in your intellect and yet, Gojo saw right through you."
She doesn't answer him because, at this time, she doesn't know which is it.
"Good luck sister," he says softly and hangs up.
She stares at her phone for a while, pondering his last question. After a few minutes of silence both within and without of her head, she returns to the kitchen to clean up the dishes.
"Thank you, Gojo-san," Tsumiki says, smiling as she exits the car.
"Don't stay up late, you two," he says with a large grin on his face.
"Okay," both Tsumiki and Megumi reply and turn on their heel, heading inside.
"Megumi."
The boy stops in his tracks and turns around. "What?"
Satoru beckons him to come closer and once he does, he asks him, "What's your opinion on Liv?"
Megumi frowns. "Is this a trick question?"
"No," Satoru answers honestly. "I just want your take on her, that's all."
Megumi hums, still thinking it's a trick question. "She's not annoying and Tsumiki likes her, so that's good."
"Do you like her?" Satoru asks and Megumi wonders if it's doubt he hears in the man's voice.
He answers him anyway, "For now."
Satoru smiles and nods. "That's good then."
Megumi rolls his eyes and mutters under his breath, "So weird."
Satoru doesn't call him out for the last comment and merely waves at him. He waits for the siblings to enter their house before driving back home.
Liv hears the elevator again around ten o'clock. She is sitting on the couch at the time, freshly showered and in her pajamas.
"You're back," she says softly over her shoulder as Satoru walks into the living room.
He blinks. "Yeah."
He walks to the couch, his step is slouchy as he crawls into the seat next to her. He sighs and leans his head back, frustration apparent on his face.
"Still want to talk?" she asks.
He rolls his head to the side so he can look her in the eye. "Are you gonna talk?"
She presses her lips and looks down at her lap. "I can't tell you much."
"Can't," he asks, "or won't?"
"Gojo - "
"Are your secrets more important than me?" he asks evenly.
"It's not that simple," she tells him slowly.
He closes his eyes. He's torn between two sides of himself; the one that has responsibilities as the greatest sorcerer in the world and the one that still calls Liv Drakon a friend.
"Is this the price?" he asks while his eyes are still closed. "The binding vow."
Just this once, she wants to say but knows it's not true - not yet, anyway. "Yes."
He sighs and hides his face in the palms of his hands. "Damn it, Liv. Why didn't you just tell me?"
She takes a deep breath. "You'd have found out anyway."
"Finding out this way sucks big-time," he says icily, his eyes meeting hers.
He's silent and so is she. They stare at each other, electric blue and hazel green. The world stops for a second and neither of them breathes. Satoru frowns in confusion and watches as she sticks out her tongue fully. A bright and familiar mark appears and his eyes widen as he reads the Kanji on her tongue.
"Is that - " he can't even bring himself to say it.
Vow of Silence.
Binding vows are the base of all jujutsu - sacrificing to gain. The Vow of Silence is unique in the sense that the sorcerer is more or less cursed with no benefits; the Vow doesn't amplify or give a power boost to the sorcerer's abilities. Its primary role is to ensure the integrity of the secret without fearing human error. For this reason, sorcerers tend to avoid this kind of binding vow but also because the vow often involves instant death as payment for breaking silence. To Satoru, this means that whatever the Shuuin are hiding, they would rather die than reveal it to the world. Could it be a technique after all? he wonders. It's connected to their Vow of Pacifism as well, no doubt.
"So, there is a secret after all," he says. "Guess those higher-ups had a reason to be paranoid, for once."
She retracts her tongue and stares him dead in the eye. "I never lied to you, Gojo, and I do want to help you."
He runs his hand through his white locks. "Damn it, Liv. You make it really hard to trust you."
"Likewise."
His eyes meet hers again and there is a certain anger in her hazel orbs.
"I am not the enemy, Gojo," she seethed, her breathing frantic, "so don't make me one."
His eyes widen and he laughs, "Are you threatening me?"
"Threatening you?" she scoffs. "In these twenty years, did I ever, even remotely, try and threaten you?"
He remains silent.
"You are drowned in your own distrust of me that you can't see past it," she says, her voice strained. "To make matters worse, you make me doubtful of you."
"Keeping secrets doesn't foster trust," he bites back.
"Because I can't tell you, damn it," she cries out. "I want to, I desperately want to but I can't!"
Her outburst makes her pant and the pent-up frustration is evident as she hugs one of the pillows on the couch. There is something about the way she curls up into a fetus that makes his insides churn and twist.
"Marriage is about sharing and compromise," she spat as she hugged a pillow. "Get used to it."