13. Paying for the damages
A loud noise woke up the albino
Gojo's eyes widened and he was even trying to catch his breath.
That dream left him with a bad feeling
But whatever it was that his dream wanted to warn him about, he was completely sure of one thing at that moment.
And it is that he had to make peace with Utahime for the sake of Yoshio
"What could that dream have been?" he questioned as he rubbed his head and his eyes got used to the light.
It was almost ten in the morning and that room was still a mess
In addition, it was already illuminated by the rays of the sun that entered through the large windows
The door to that room kept getting slammed hard.
"Gojo San" a man's voice was heard calling out to him as the door continued to be knocked on loudly.
At that moment, the sorcerer got up from where he had fallen asleep and went to open the door, dragging his feet.
He had only slept about three hours and although it was usual for him to sleep very little, this time he felt very tired.
Outside said room was Ijichi, that man looked more finished
He already had some small wrinkles on his forehead and he even had some gray hair and all caused by the stress that Gojo caused him and the still world in which he worked
Next to him was the manager of that hotel, who was the person who banged hard on that door.
And after a few more minutes, Gojo finally opened
"What's wrong Ijichi?" Gojo asked with puffy eyes.
That attendant was surprised to see Gojo looking so gaunt.
That was a very unusual thing to see in that man, but there was no time, the manager was in a hurry to talk to the white-haired man.
"I'm sorry, Gojo san… but the manager contacted me because apparently loud noises were heard from your room at dawn and some tenants complained, and why didn't you answer your cell phone, and…" Ijichi tried. to explain. the situation but the man in a suit interrupted him
"What happens, sir, is that at the reception we wanted to know if everything is alright, also, can we come in? It is protocol to know if our rooms have not been damaged by guests" said that man
"Go ahead, but once and for all I'll tell you... I'll pay for the damage caused" Gojo said, letting them pass.
Poor Ijichi shrieked when he saw how Gojo had almost destroyed that luxurious room.
The manager glared at Gojo.
"Sir, this is disrespectful to our facilities!" He said as he pointed his finger at him.
But Gojo was more concerned with finding his sunglasses. "Where have I left them? I remember wearing them before I destroyed that Pagoda at the Iori shrine"— he felt in his pants pockets
"What destroy you what?!" Ijichi was surprised to hear that
Gojo was ignoring the manager, who kept saying that it was going to cost too much money as he went from one place to another, looking at all the things that were destroyed and taking photos with his cell phone as evidence
"You'll have to work this out with our lawyers!, Gentlemen, we deserve compensation for these damages!" Said that manager very furious
"Of... there must be a reason why all this happened, sir, perhaps this can be solved without going to the legal route" Ijichi said trying to calm that man who did have the desire to kill Gojo.
At the same time, Ijichi was going from one side to the other in that room worried about the damage and trying to calm that man down.
As Gojo kept looking for those sunglasses
"Wha... What happened here Gojo san?" Ijichi asked looking at the crack in the window
As he took another step, he almost stepped on some photographs that were still scattered on the ground.
That caught his attention. "What is this?" Ijichi said taking a picture.
"I'm sure Yoshio has my sunglasses."Gojo smiled as he remembered his son using them.
Gojo was already in a better mood despite feeling tired
Now it was time to start that day and by the way, start with his "new plan"
But first he had to get rid of that manager, who was still furious about that disaster
"If you'll excuse me sir" Gojo turned to see that man in an elegant suit
"I accept that yesterday I exceeded my anger a little... but as I said, I will pay for the damages caused in this room" he said with a smile and looked for his wallet
Not feeling it in his pants, he started looking for it among all the things on the floor
"Ijichi help me find my bag!" But already!"- ordered Gojo
That assistant began to help him with that
And after desperately searching for a few minutes, they found it under that chair that was still upside down
"I'll also pay for this..." Gojo said as they raised that chair on all fours again.
"This is seriously disrespectful!" You will have extra charges for all this!" - Said that manager
Quickly, Gojo pulled out his black credit card.
That was the key to the world on many occasions and in many parts of the world, it was a symbol of being people of a very high social rank
"Do you think we could come to terms with this?" I say I pay the damages and we pretend that nothing happened here. Is that okay with you? And by the way you could take a "tip"" said Gojo with a smile
The manager fell silent and his eyes widened when he saw that card.
The face of that man changed quickly, he cleared his throat and shrugged when he saw that this man had a fortune with that simple card
"Okay, sir" he adjusted his tie, "We'll charge the damage to your account... I'll send someone to come and clean up this mess right away."
And after talking about $$$ numbers with Gojo, that man passed said card through a portable terminal that he had brought since he arrived in that room—"And we will act as if nothing had happened here" He said
"Thank you, so kind! I'm glad we were able to fix this without going to court"— Gojo said as his card was returned to him
"Now, sir, if you'll excuse us, I have some business to attend to with my assistant... Do you think you could send the cleaners over in another fifteen minutes?" Please and Thank you" — Gojo said goodbye
"Right away, sir," said that manager, writing something down on his cell phone and without further ado he left there.
Gojo closed the door and sighed heavily as Ijichi continued picking up those photographs from the floor.
Now he was the one who would start to question him—"Gojo san... What happened here?"—
"Long story Ijichi... long story" Gojo replied scratching his head and walking towards what was left of that room
"By the way... Who is this baby?" Ijichi asked looking at those photographs
"He's my son," Gojo answered with a big smile.
"WHAT?! IS THERE ANOTHER MINI YOU?! OH NO THIS IS A BIG TRAGEDY!" Ijichi said super surprised
"Why is everyone saying that?!" Gojo raised an eyebrow at hearing that again
"But, how did this happen?, Who is the mother?, When did this happen?" Ijichi was intrigued with that
"It's my son with Utahime..." Gojo blurted out.
"With Utahime-senpai?! But she disappeared six years ago!" Ijichi was very surprised that even her voice sounded more shrill and she stuttered more than usual
Gojo rubbed his temples because of his assistant's stutter—"That's a long story that I'll tell you at breakfast"—he turned
"Well, Ijichi, do you have what I sent you to investigate?" Gojo asked picking up the things that were missing from the ground
Ijichi was really surprised by what Gojo said, he wanted to know what happened, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Ijichi answers!" Gojo said seeing that the assistant was still stuck with his words
"Eh yes! I have the answers that you sent me to ask the other clans and sanctuaries, but Gojo san..."— was interrupted by the albino
"Perfect! You will tell me the details while I have breakfast... I'm starving" said Gojo with a big smile
"But Gojo-san!" There's something important I have to tell you!" Ijichi said but he was ignored by Gojo
"Whatever you have to tell me, you tell me at breakfast!" Come on Ijichi Ah! And by the way I need you to connect me with the best family lawyer you know!"— Gojo said as he took out a few more things from the rubble of that table
"Lawyer?!" Ijichi was even more surprised by that request.
"Yes to the best! Go Ijichi! I'm hungry and by the way I need you to take me to a specific address... I have to go talk to someone about my son" he said showing that album
"But!" the assistant was interrupted once again
"Walk or I'll hit you!" that albino was in a hurry to get out of there
"Gojo san!" Ijichi yelled.
"On going! That I want to go to a good restaurant near here" Gojo commented leaving there
Ijichi had no choice but to go after that man who still served
"I see... now I understand why Utahime senpai left so suddenly a few years ago." Ijichi adjusted his glasses.
"Can you believe it Ijichi?" All these years he had a son and I didn't know until yesterday" - Gojo was about to put more cake in his mouth
"The truth is that I still find it hard to believe that you are the father of that child" said that assistant sincerely.
"Well, believe it, that boy is just like me, I would say he's an exact copy of me" Gojo said with a big smile.
"Gods save us..." Ijichi said softly before taking more of his coffee.
"I heard you!" growled the albino.
"Iiiiiii!" cried the poor man who almost burned himself with the drink.
Both adults were in a cafe in the modern center of Kyoto
Ijichi had ordered a simple breakfast, instead Gojo had ordered anything with sugar on the menu.
Hotcakes, yogurt, cereal with milk, milkshakes AND a great dessert
At that instant, the albino was eating an entire cake by himself.
I needed all the sugar possible for that day
"Is that why you want the best lawyer? Are you going to fight with Utahime for your son?" Ijichi asked nervously.
"Perhaps yes" —he ate more cake—"Everything will depend on whether she and I reach an agreement, I still want legal advice for this case"— he filled his mouth with more cake
"I still want the sanctuary of that family to work with me, so I must reach an agreement with that family" he said with his mouth full
Ijichi just sighed before taking another sip of his coffee.
"Now, give me the details of the mission I entrusted to you" Gojo asked a little restless and taking his milkshake
That assistant sighed again and took a folder out of his small briefcase.
"Well... I went to talk to some leaders of certain clans as you asked, Gojo san—"
"And is there good news?, What did the Kamo clan say?" Gojo asked curiously "Noritoshi must surely agree, he was always a good student."
Ijichi loosened his tie. "Actually... Leader Noritoshi said that." He took a deep breath and then let out a resounding "NO."
"Than?! Why not?!" Gojo wanted an explanation
"Well... Noritoshi Kamo said that currently as the leader of his clan, he saw more for his family interests and that he really wasn't interested in helping us... he said that he didn't want to get involved with a former banished sorcerer so as not to call him a criminal and he stressed that if he helped us that would be giving his clan a bad reputation again... "— Ijichi adjusted his glasses
"He also said that he already had alliances with several shrines here in Kyoto and in other districts" he continued reading
"Of which, all of them gave commissions to their sorcerers to "exorcize" with less risk and greater profit and among one of those sanctuaries is that of their former teacher Utahime" — commented Ijichi
Gojo grimaced upon hearing that.
"I guess I'll have to gain the trust of the Iori family for the Kamo clan to agree to work with me." He ate some more cake
"I have to convince Utahime one way or another so that she agrees to talk to Kamo in my place" he said with his mouth full.
"Yes... but I guess now with this "their son in common" thing, it will be more difficult, right?" Ijichi questioned a little nervously
Gojo sighed—"First one step at a time and then another... so Next!"—he made a little noise like a contest
"What did Maki say about going back to the sorcerer world?" If she sided with me?" Gojo asked before finishing his cake
Ijichi sighed again and turned the page.
"He said NO..." Ijichi pursed his lips.
"WHY NOT?! I WAS HIS TEACHER FOR YEARS!" Gojo felt offended by that
"Well..."— Ijichi said reading that sheet—"She said that she is not interested in returning at the moment and less so now that her daughter was born and she named you in various ways…"
"What did he say about me?" Gojo asked with his arms crossed.
Ijichi gulped and began to read.
"And I quote... —Ijichi said —" TELL THAT IDIOT THAT I AM NOT GOING BACK TO THAT FUCKING WORLD OF SORCERER, I AM NOT WORKING WITH AN ASSHOLE WHO ALMOST COSTED US OUR LIVES FOR HAVING TO SAVE HIM FROM THAT HAPPY BOX, ALSO, TELL THAT SON OF A BITCH HE SHOULD ALREADY LET US LIVE IN PEACE A TIME AND..
"Ok, I get it," Gojo said with his arms crossed. "Even Yuta couldn't convince her?"
"He said that if his wife said that, it was the law to follow it to the letter... Yuta still sends his regards and says that he hopes you will soon meet your niece, Mika"— Ijichi commented, taking a bite of his toast
"Well, maybe I'll give him the surprise that he has a nephew. Puff! Why doesn't anyone want to work with us?"— Gojo leaned back in that seat and looked at the ceiling
"The answer is very simple" Ijichi dared to say.
"Because you are an exile and in a certain case "you are considered a criminal" because of everything that happened in Shibuya, also don't forget that you were expelled from the magical world "permanently" and working with you again is taking an imminent risk since you he would be working under his own rules..."— Ijichi said waving his hands
"In addition to the fact that you are reckless in all aspects and even more so now that in this "job" you must be allied with a sanctuary in order to obtain missions and money... everyone sees you as an "imminent danger"—Ijichi said
Gojo pursed his lips and forehead at that.
"I'm not reckless and I'm not a danger" —Gojo said with his arms crossed. —"I just have to show that they can trust the strongest sorcerer again."
"Besides, you're not doing your job right. Ijichi, you only bring me bad news!" I'm starting to think you're out of luck" Gojo said
Ijichi sighed and turned another leaf once more.
"Well, as I said, there was something important that I had to tell you and it is that... apparently there is "someone" who wants to work with you despite everything"— Ijichi commented with a grimace
"Really? Who?" questioned Gojo still with his arms crossed
"The current leader of the Ashiya clan... Reiko Ashiya" Ijichi commented.
That seemed strange to Gojo
"I thought that clan was extinct"— his hands loosened a little
"We all believed that... but it seems that they were hidden in the shadows for a few years until little by little they have emerged again and are also gaining some popularity among some sorcerers and especially shrines in Tokyo" Ijichi said adjusting his lenses
—"jummmm" — Gojo put his hand to his chin —"I guess they didn't waste time or rather they knew how to show up on time"
"I am also surprised by the popularity they are gaining... although their leader was the one who contacted me electronically, she commented that she would like to speak with you in private one of these days Gojo san"— Ijichi commented showing him a screenshot of that conversation you had
"Clan Ashiya, huh?" Gojo questioned thoughtfully.
The albino thought that was a bit strange and he had a feeling that he did not know how to differentiate between whether it was good or bad.
Maybe it was all the sugar he had just eaten that had put him in this state, but if that was a sign he wasn't going to let it go.
Gojo sighed and lightly massaged his septum and temples.
I needed to start having networks to return as soon as possible to that world of sorcery, but at that moment I didn't know if I should trust that or not.
"It's still a very small clan with no more than ten members" Ijichi gave more details " And not are they able to use the simple territory, but it seems that they can use other techniques with cursed energy, as I said it seems that they also want to start working here in Kyoto"
"Besides, their leader was very interested in working with you, Gojo," Ijichi said, noticing that man very thoughtful.
Gojo made slight circles with his shoulders, that was stressing him out, but there was something more important that he wanted to solve first
"Well Ijichi, tell that Reiko that I'll see her these days... make an appointment with her and tell us where she'll see us, but don't tell them I'm here in Kyoto" Gojo gave that order
"Aren't you going to investigate more about them before making a deal?" Ijichi questioned.
"That point will be part of your work Ijichi"— he pointed his finger at him while recharging his hand on the table
"Besides, you will continue helping me to try to convince the others to work with me and by the way, you will help me find out a little more about this "new" clan..."— I take the last of his milkshake
"Just like your job will continue to be to take me to the places I tell you and to contact my lawyer and more," said that sorcerer with a big smile
"If im going to do this... Don't you think I need a raise? Or at least a vacation? If I'm working with you it's because you're threatening me" — Ijichi said somewhat seriously
"Your salary will be in negotiation since I can no longer spend more than the little fortune I have left, besides that is one of the reasons why I need missions where I get paid like before" — Gojo commented
Despite still having enough money or social status, he knew he had to find some source of income, especially now that he found out he had a son.
"At least a vacation wouldn't hurt me at all..." Ijichi said, lightly rubbing his neck.
"Okay... those will also enter into negotiation... for now I want you to take me to a specific sanctuary" Gojo said taking that messy album
"To a particular shrine?" Ijichi questioned.
"Yes, I need to go ask "the kamis" about a location I'm looking for"— he opened that album a bit
All the photos were already scrambled on those sheets
A big fist of them in the center and the others were peeling off
"Uh?"— that shocked the assistant
"I no longer know which photo is from each month or year of my son's life and by the way I need to know him better to make a final decision whether to take him to Tokyo or leave him here in Kyoto" Gojo said looking at a random photo
"So your decision will depend on what they tell you about him?" Ijichi questioned.
"Right! Now let's go, I need to go talk to a Miko" Gojo commented, getting up from that table.
"But..." He didn't give Ijichi time to protest as Gojo rushed out of there again.
Someone knocked hard on that door
Utahime was in the kitchen starting to prepare the food.
The knocking on her door and the ringing of her doorbell caught her attention.
I look at his watch, it was not past 01:30 p.m.
Could they be back so early from baseball practice already? Did they forget the keys? - she wondered, surprised by the insistence of that person who was at her door
So she headed for the front door
-I'm going! — she shouted to warn the one who rang the bell that she was coming
But they kept ringing that bell desperately
"I heard you, you shouldn't be rude to the bell!" she said somewhat annoyed
She grab the latch and open the front door
Utahime got a surprise
Someone had appeared at her door covering he face with a green book
Utahime made a big face when he recognized who it was that had appeared in front of his door
Slowly that person was lowering that book to show his sad face
"Utahime... Can we talk?" Gojo's voice sounded calm at that moment.
Utahime recognized that book that Gojo had in his hands, which was falling apart because one or another photo fell to the ground
In addition to that man wearing the same clothes as yesterday, he had somewhat marked dark circles as well as his eyes that looked a little swollen.
"TSK! Mom!— she rolled her eyes
She assumed that her mother Umeko told Gojo where she lived and that is why the man managed to find her "new" apartment.
"Utahime... I come in peace... I swear, I just came to ask you some things about Yoshi" Gojo said with a slight smile
"Besides... I want us to clarify this... as the two adults that we are..." Gojo said without taking his eyes off that woman.
He was making puppy eyes
Utahime took a deep breath, for a moment she remembered Shoko's words about "talking calmly and reaching an agreement"
And if Gojo was the first to take that step, that could be a sign to "make peace"
The jet breathed once more...
"Okay... Come in" she said in a serious tone and stepped aside to let him enter his house.
And so, those two adults were going to "talk"
Notes:
About Mika's Name... I thought to name the girl "Mai" but I feel that would be very cruel
So I decided to put a name that was a combination between Rika and Maki, since it has the same amount of letters and the same letters.
Mika's name apparently has several meanings including: beauty, perfume and "new moon".
The Ashiya clan is mentioned in the manga in the Mahito vs Mechamaru fight, they made the "simple territory" that Miwa can use but she is not from that clan
About the title of this chapter... Not only did Gojo have to pay for the damage caused by his anger in that room, but he also has to face the reality that no one wants to help him anymore just because he is "him", so that's why this reason he is "paying" said loneliness