Cursed Love

~ Where Whispers Wail ~

June 7th, 2005. / 14:03 / Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan

Satoru frowns. "Say what?"

The boy next to him sighs, rubbing his forehead with his thumb. "Pay attention to people around you, Satoru."

"Whatever," the Gojo clan heir grumbles before making a disgusted face as a curse tries to get past his Infinity. "Fuck, you're an ugly one."

"I asked, why isn't Liv a student like us?" Suguru repeats, his tone irritated. "Shoko doesn't fight either but she attends the school."

"I don't know, man," Satoru sighs dramatically, adding, "The Shuuin are weird - best not to waste our brain power over it."

Suguru hums as he thinks of the girl that he had met months earlier. Headstrong, aloof, and a tad flamboyant, Liv Drakon is unlike any girl Suguru had met before (sorcerer or otherwise). What further impressed (confused) him is her disregard for Satoru's abilities as a sorcerer. Suguru isn't sure where this disregard stems from but he figures it has something to do with their shared history.

"She doesn't strike me as weak, though," Suguru comments after Satoru exorcises the remaining curse. "Maybe restrained but not weak."

Satoru laughs mirthfully, "I know! I mean look at her - the bitch is insane!"

Suguru hums. That's true, he thinks to himself, staring at the said bitch as she appeared out of nowhere, standing close to them and cheering them on. Their mission had them travel to Edogawa where sightings of a high-level curse and several low-level curses were reported by the local windows. Most sorcerers tend to hang back or even run away in such circumstances, especially those who do not have sufficient combat skills.

Not her though.

"Woo-hoo! Yeah, whack 'em, Blue!" she yells from the top of her lungs, waving her unfurled tessen fan high up in the air. "You too, Suguru! You got this!"

It is amazing how much spirit she has for someone who should be terrified. Not only is she part of the cruel world of theirs but she's also unbothered by the fact she can't even protect herself. It's like she's actively looking for trouble, Suguru thought of several occasions.

"I wonder," Suguru muses with a chuckle, "what kind of sorcerer would she be if she could fight?"

Satoru scoffs. "Even crazier."

Both boys chuckle as they rejoin their odd not-classmate.

October 15th, 2016. / 19:44 / Shuuin Manor, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

The reception proceeded with little to no scandals.

After his strange encounter with Liv's relatives from Florida, Satoru admits he enjoyed the rest of the wedding day. He could eat all the sweets and small cakes the Shuuin prepared for the occasion. He noted one particular pastry that he bullied Liv into making again so he could enjoy it at the penthouse. The eye-roll he got was in his opinion unnecessary but Liv complied regardless, saying she'd make them before he left for his mission the next day.

Apart from stuffing his face with sugar, Satoru also learned a few things about the Shuuin. Their elders hold a place of honor and counsel among the Shuuin. Contrary to popular belief, the Shuuin elders are not completely detached from the ongoings of the jujutsu society as they know the current state of affairs much better than Satoru expected. Their inter-clan politics are surprisingly healthy and supportive (which explains Liv's support of his dream to change the jujutsu society).

"The Shuuin respect the past and they look forward to the future," she had told him when the elders left the Manor. "Our elders are armed with knowledge and experience, but they do not hinder our journeys. Their job is to give a push or a cushion when needed."

It's not all sunshine and daisies, though. As Satoru further observed, the Shuuin are more aloof and direct than the higher-ups. Guess this is where she got her personality from. Apart from the Cormac sisters, none of the other Shuuin tried to vy for his attention or bask in his presence, nor did they outright look down on him as if he were a child. Not to say they do not respect him or his abilities but he finds their approach refreshing if suspicious. There is a charm in the lightness of their presence and obvious disregard for the jujutsu society in its entirety. He thought they were cowards like the rest of the elders. Imagine his surprise to find anything but.

His mind circles back to the revelation several nights prior. By now, he knows that the marriage is just a means to an end. But to what end? Unfortunately for him, Satoru doesn't have all the information to make a solid assumption. His knowledge of the Shuuin is limited to what Liv told him over the years and the interview she had with Masamichi (Satoru had Ijichi send him a copy of the interview). He was shocked to learn that she was left potentially unguarded all those years before becoming the mistress.

There are many gaps still undiscovered when it comes to the Shuuin mistress and it makes him all the more excited for their conversation tonight.

Once the wedding guests and the rest of the Shuuin left the premises of the Manor, the newlyweds remained on the grounds. Liv had already prepared their bags in advance, knowing that they would remain overnight. Since Satoru was to leave for a mission the next day, she made sure to pack whatever was necessary. She wants to feel comfortable and she needs Satoru to feel comfortable as well for the impending conversation they are to have.

That is how they end up sitting in pajamas on the floor, drinking tea.

Satoru sits on the tatami mat in the living room of the Manor while his wife prepares them tea in the kitchenette. As the kettle clicks when the water inside boils, Liv slowly pours the piping hot water into the teapot. She places the teapot onto the bamboo tray before serving it to her husband.

They sit in silence for a while, her warming her hands against the cup and Satoru taking sips from his cup. Even though he bubbles with questions, he savors the silence after a very social day. He glances at her and finds her breathing steadily with her face relaxed and her lips stretched into the smallest of smiles.

"Go on," she sighs, the smile still on her lips. "Ask away."

He glances at his teacup, twirling it. "Where to start?"

"I'd suggest at the beginning," she says softly, then adding, "though, I advise against it."

"Long story?" he quips.

"Too long," she agrees. "So long that I don't even know the whole story."

"Then tell me what I need to know," he suggests. "We can dish out family history at some other point."

She smiles before offering to pour him another cup. It is strange how domestic all of this seems but he doesn't necessarily oppose the idea. It's good to lay back and relax. He hands her his cup and watches as she tilts the teapot. Her colorful robe is long and dainty, slipping off her bare shoulders as she hands him his cup back. The image reminds him of a particular memory at his inauguration party at the Gojo Estate. He closes his eyes and tries to suppress the memory for now.

"The Shuuin are a clan of secrets," Liv says softly. "We don't mind sharing them but at some point in our history, we realized our secrets are coveted by other jujutsu sorcerers. The Shuuin have suffered needless deaths because we are wrongly perceived as a threat."

Satoru listens to her talk, the sound of her voice soothing to his ear. He thinks he can listen to her all the time and wonders if she still sings.

"We've changed our way of life through the ages, adapting to the tide and its shifts with ease," she continues. "For a while, we lived comfortably and by the time we officially detached from the jujutsu society, we were branded as weirdos and left at peace, undisturbed for centuries."

"Can't say the same now," Satoru comments, and Liv nods.

"Our current predicament started about forty years ago," Liv says as she takes a sip of her tea. "My grandfather noticed a pattern in the occurrence of curses and sorcerers. He noticed the curses were steadily getting stronger than the sorcerers, outnumbering them in strength and numbers. He voiced his concerns to the Council at the time."

"Dismissed his concerns in a blink of an eye?" Satoru inquires, and she nods in response. "They never change, old bastards."

"They thought he was trying to cause a commotion and do 'something' while they're occupied elsewhere," Liv says evenly, shaking her head. "All things considered, I guess he ended up being the biggest fool of them all."

"Let me guess. It ended badly for him?" Satoru asks softly.

Liv nods. "He tried to approach the matter by circumventing the direct contact with the Council. He put his trust in a friend and offered to reveal all of the Shuuin's secrets if his friend argued on his behalf."

"Did he succeed?"

"He only made the matter worse," Liv answers grimly. "The Shuuin elders tried to cover it up by brainwashing my grandfather's friend."

"They could do that?" Satoru asks doubtfully.

"They tried, but managed to only alter the friend's memory, not suppress it," Liv explains evenly. "The friend went to the Council and informed them that the Shuuin clan was hiding something big. The Council, naturally, ordered the eradication of the Shuuin. The order was supported by the Zen'in, especially."

"But you survived," Satoru points out.

"With casualties," Liv counters. "My grandfather was assassinated and the clan elders issued immediate damage control to avoid any more deaths. They managed to appease the Council and provide 'proof' of our innocence. The matter was laid to rest and my mother became the mistress of the Shuuin at the age of sixteen."

Just sixteen years old, he hears her words echo in his mind.

"She did a good job keeping you afloat at such a young age," he murmurs, recalling the steadfast woman who breathed authority wherever she went.

Sumiye Shuuin was the previous mistress of the Shuuin and Liv's late mother. He doesn't remember her much save for a few faint memories from childhood and the few instances they met during his high school days. He sees little of her in Liv, which is a compliment in his opinion. While his mother enjoyed a certain friendship with Sumiye, Satoru always felt on edge in her presence. Her calm and collected personality oozed off a certain chill and it didn't appeal to him. She resembled the higher-ups too much in that regard.

"That's thanks to her tactical genius," Lif admits as she offers him another cup. "She strengthened the Shuuin by creating a spy network that exists even today. They protect us in numerous ways, to alarm us when danger's ahead or to even defend us from aggressors."

"That was clever," Satoru says with a hint of humor. "It bypasses the whole Vow of Pacifism thing."

"Actually," Liv winces before chuckling sheepishly, "the Vow of Pacifism isn't real."

Satoru quirks a brow. "It ain't?"

Liv shakes her head. "One of our ancestors believed that avoiding combat would make us less of a target for jujutsu sorcerers so they came up with the Vow of Pacifism."

"So technically, you can fight?" Satoru asks carefully.

Liv nods.

He squints his eyes before scoffing. "I knew it."

"In any case, our days of hiding are nearing their end," Liv continues and her eyes narrow as she pours tea into his cup. "The world is changing and it's time for us to adapt once more. We want to share our knowledge with the jujutsu world so that we can prevent a possible catastrophe."

"The Vow of Silence is stopping you, however," Satoru quipped. "Or rather, whatever or whoever you made the vow with."

She hands him his cup back. "We call her the Great Mother and we want her to revoke the Vow."

"Great Mother?" he asks, rubbing his chin. "Is she one of the Shuuin elders or something?"

"In a manner of speaking," Liv admits. "She's the progenitor of our bloodline."

Satoru coughs, the tea almost sliding down his windpipe. "What?! Liv, she'd have to be at least - "

"One thousand years old?" she adds and Satoru nods furiously. "She's not immortal but she can't die either. We don't know how she does it but for someone as resourceful as her, I'm sure near-immortality isn't an unthinkable feat."

"How do you know that for sure?" he asks with a hint of worry in his voice. "She might be a cursed apparition or a vengeful spirit."

"I may not be the strongest sorcerer alive, but I can tell the difference between a curse and a human just fine," Liv answers evenly, borderline offended. "You'll see her for yourself soon enough."

He breathes out in frustration. "Fine. So what's the deal with this Great Mother of yours? Why do you want her to take back the Vow?"

"The secret of the Shuuin is the existence of the Great Mother," Liv presses her lips into a thin line. "The Vow is the reason we're living this lifestyle. The secrets, the lies, the game of pretend - all to ensure that she is safe and away from the gaze of jujutsu society. I tried to reason with her ten years ago. I failed rather miserably."

He frowns. "You want me to fight her for you? If reason doesn't work, we can force her to submit."

It sounds more like a statement than a question, but he's surprised all the same as she chuckles and shakes her head in dismissal. "No! I tried that already and it did shit to change her mind. Besides, like I said, she can't die so undoing the Vow that way is impossible."

"You fought her?" he asks incredulously. "I thought you didn't have combat training."

"That's how one becomes the leader of the Shuuin," Liv smirks. "We fight her and if she deems us worthy, we take the mantle."

"And if not?" Satoru asks though he can somewhat deduce the answer to that question.

She smiles sadly. "We die."

Satoru's eyes widen. Talk about a high-risk gamble, he thinks to himself.

"I can't solve this with fists, Satoru," she explains softly. "She believes that the jujutsu world will capitalize on the Shuuin secrets and that this is the only way we survive. I need to convince her that she's wrong or rather, I just need her to doubt her conviction."

"Why would she do it for me, then?" Satoru counters. "Realistically speaking, I represent the same society she's hiding from. My loyalty to them is questionable, I admit but my word should mean even less to her."

Liv blinks before her eyes wander to the window nearby, her gaze fixated on the lonesome plum tree. "If I didn't have the utmost confidence that you could pull this off, this marriage wouldn't have happened."

He doesn't react at first, the honesty of her words stunts him for a moment. Not to say Liv ever minced words around him; she's a fairly honest person. However, she rarely voiced her trust in him and/or his abilities. His lips stretch into a wide grin, his eyes twinkle and for a moment, she sees the same blue-eyed teenage boy she put her faith in all those years ago.

"Aww, you trust me," he sniggers and gets a forehead flick in return.

"Stop that," she says with a smirk. "So, you in or out?"

A moment passes as he contemplates his options and she holds her breath. This is it, she thinks to herself, trying to calm her nerves down. In the worst-case scenario, she reminds herself, he goes back to his life as the strongest and you go back to square one. While the worst-case scenario is not appealing to her (at all), she'd swallow her feelings and let it happen anyway. I won't take that choice away from him.

While she's consumed with nervousness, Satoru suddenly takes her hand into his and presses his lips against her knuckles.

"You know, you were right," he mumbles under his breath. "It was fun finding it out."

He peeks at her from underneath her palm, those cerulean eyes still shining with excitement and she chuckles in relief. Damn you.

"See," she says and squeezes his hand in return, just now realizing that his Infinity has been down all this time. "I told you so."

October 15th, 2016. / 20:33 / Tokyo Tower, Tokyo, Japan

Mathias sighs as he watches the moon slowly reach the zenith.

It is a mesmerizing sight, at least to the older Drakon. He finds the celestial body unusually comforting, especially when he's having trouble sleeping. Tonight is one such night. He half-expects to hear from his sister that the Gojo clan head will level the Shuuin Manor and her along with it. Maybe she suspects the same, he wonders briefly, with dread passing through him like a premonition before one vomits. It would explain why she had everyone leave her and Gojo alone at the Manor.

Mathias sighs again, his eyes closed and his head heavy as he rests his forehead against his prompted knee. He is aware that he hasn't been alone at the top of the Tokyo Tower for a while now. He doesn't bother calling out the intruder, mainly because he does not need to.

He knows who it is, anyway.

"I know this wasn't the deal," Miguel says as he approaches the man. "I just had to make sure she's okay before I head back."

The older Drakon hums. "At least you know it. Luckily for you, Liv doesn't much care if you hang around or ditch right away."

Miguel grumbles as he leans against the railing, crossing his arms over his chest. "She's not calling yet."

It is an observation and Mathias groans. "No, she's not."

"Should we check on her?"

Mathias gives him a cold stare over his shoulder and Miguel laughs.

"How much will she tell him?" Miguel asks after a while.

"However much she wants," Mathias answers.

Miguel grumbles something intangible under his breath. Mathias doesn't reprimand him; he's not sure if he can anymore at this point. They both know how dangerous the situation is, and how easily it can get out of hand - they both understand that. The difference is that Mathias owes everything to Liv and he can't be that selfish again, whereas Miguel is a spy and can always walk away.

Before he can say anything else, Mathias' phone buzzes.

"That her?" Miguel asks as the older Drakon sibling pulls out his phone.

The bright light illuminates his face in the dark and for a moment, his brows furrow. So it is her, Miguel surmises and waits patiently for Mathias to read the message. A short moment later, Miguel sees him typing before locking his phone and sighing in relief.

"All's good," he says calmly. "Gojo is in."

Miguel tries to keep his voice calm as he says, "Yeah, all's good. Now what?"

The older Drakon sibling is silent for a moment, his thoughts racing. "This is the part where things get potentially bloody."

The spy tenses up at the man's words, his eyes widening in alarm. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"If he succeeds," Mathias continues, "you know what she'll have to do afterward, right?"

For a moment, Miguel is lost in thought until the answer suddenly creeps on him like a swarm of ants climbing up his spine and he pushes down the swelling bile in his throat.

"Where whispers wail," the spy mumbles, the dreadful words that still strike fear into his heart.

Mathias almost laughs. "We are despicable, aren't we?"

"I thought that is no longer practiced," Miguel points out.

Mathias simply shrugs.

"Damn," Miguel curses. "That bastard is in for a real cold shower."

Mathias laughs this time. "Maybe, though knowing him, I think he'll be fascinated."

"What makes you say that?"

"Gojo has a keen eye for talent," the Shuuin-born explains. "He also sets high standards for everyone around him, regardless of their actual skill. Liv might just exceed his expectations if all goes according to plan."

Miguel frowns in confusion. "She's our mistress for a reason. She already exceeds everyone's expectations."

Mathias hums. "She's not a true mistress, though but she might become one with his help."

Miguel nods in agreement. "It's ironic don't you think? How he'll potentially create the bane of his existence."

"I disagree," Mathias shakes his head. "My feelings toward the man aside, he is the only person who can make her truly happy."

"Not the only person," the spy counters.

"He had his shot in New Orleans," Mathias retorts. "He also blew it. My faith lies solely with Gojo now."

"He tried, Mat," Miguel says softly. "He did."

I know, Mathias wants to say but he doesn't truly believe that.

"You sound confident, though," Miguel points out bitterly. "I don't think you've ever been this confident in any situation so far."

Mathias nods because the spy is correct in his statement. "When faced with reality, one must be wise enough to accept it."

"Is it reality," Miguel muses, "or wishful thinking?"

"Why can't it be both?" Mathias asks in return.

Miguel says nothing as he gazes at the moon as well.

"At the end of the day," Mathias finally says, standing up and turning toward the spy, "all that matters at this moment is she. The rest of us will be fine regardless of what happens."

"That's stupidly brazen of you," Miguel challenges him. "Other people matter, too. Other sorcerers matter."

"Yet, they play dead when things get too tough, expecting the strong ones to have mercy on them," Mathias says sternly, "and the same thing happened to the Shuuin."

Miguel remains silent, effectively drawn into an imaginary corner. He feels called out and not without cause. He knows this and it pains him to admit it, but Mathias has a point.

"We bark at the moon, proclaim that life is unfair, that it's out of our hands," Mathias says a bit softer this time, "and that's the reason why you and I are having this conversation in the first place. In truth, we're toothless cowards whereas she dared to claw and crawl her way to get where she is now."

With that said, Mathias leaves the spy alone atop the Tokyo Tower with barely a nod as he disappears in the shadows of the night.

October 16th, 2016. / 06:11 / Shuuin Manor, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

The next morning, Liv wakes up before Satoru.

They stayed up late, mostly so Liv could answer any other questions her husband might have. Most of it was mainly about the reason behind their marriage. The discussion about the wedding took place roughly two months earlier and his only requirement was for her to just consult him before making any choices which Liv didn't mind acquiescing. On the other hand, his lack of involvement made him overlook many tidbits of the ceremony so he was curious about the symbolism and importance of the ritual they performed.

"Only a Shuuin can be allowed to see the Great Mother and this way, you are one of us," she said when he asked her about the binding vow he made with the wedding vows.

His curiosity was almost insatiable and she indulged his questions to the latter. He found himself more interested in the Shuuin and their lifestyle as a result. They reflect much of what he dreams for the jujutsu society to be.

Apart from the wedding ritual, Satoru was curious about her abilities as well. While she didn't indulge as much as she did with the wedding questions (mostly because she was too tired to answer in detail), she did confess to having another ability besides seidr and geldr.

"It's called Inner Eye," she confessed, yawning. "I can read minds, essentially."

She promised to show him the full extent of her abilities once he returned from his mission.

After a short while, Liv had urged him to fall asleep. He waved her off, saying he didn't need sleep but when she pushed the matter further, he relented. She pointed toward a spare bedroom for him to sleep in peacefully but he insisted on staying in the living room with her. She tried to reason with him, telling him to get some sleep in earnest but she was met with a cocky grin and even cockier remark.

"I don't want to be late for the mission but I'm lousy with alarms," he said jokingly. "Since we're not sleeping in the same bed, we'll at least sleep in the same room. This way you can wake me up if I oversleep."

She retorted by saying she's not his wife and he responded by showing her his wedding ring, silently telling her that she's, in fact, his wife. He walked to the nearby leather couch and lay down before he closed his eyes with a smile on his face. Liv huffed at first, flabbergasted before sitting down on the sofa next to the couch. She didn't bother cleaning up the dishes - I'll just do it in the morning. Instead, she reached for one of the books from the neat pile lying on the coffee table. She read for another half an hour or so before slumber overwhelmed her as well. The spouses spent the night together, with him resting on the plush couch and with her curled up on a sofa.

As the dawn approaches and her eyes flutter open, Liv rubs her eyes as she looks around. She sees her husband lying on the couch with his back turned toward her. She hears him snoring softly and his shoulders move up and down in steady rhythm. He's grown, she thinks to herself, noting how large his back has gotten. Tove's words echo in the back of her head, something about them being or not being honest with each other. She smiles softly and leaves for the kitchen shortly after.

By the time Satoru wakes up, she has prepared them coffee and packed him a stack of pastries he took a particular liking to yesterday. Humming, the man stretches out his limbs as he yawns. He notes that his eyes are surprisingly not sore and when he opens them, he sees it's morning outside. He feels the couch dent as Liv sits next to him with a pair of mugs in her hands. He can smell the freshly brewed coffee.

"Good morning," she says and offers him a mug. "I added sugar already, three cubes."

A corner of his mouth twitches upwards as he accepts the offered mug. For the first time in a long while, he can say the morning is indeed a good one.

The Shuuin Manor has never seemed so inviting and homey as it is this morning. The morning sun peaks through the curtains, casting a beautiful golden hue over the wooden floors and furniture. The backyard of the Manor glistened under the sunlight, the colors of the trees and grass vibrant as they swayed gently under the breeze. There is a certain scent of dew permeating the insides of the house, making the scenery even more tranquil.

It is strange, in a way. Liv avoided the place like a plague as a child. With so much blood and tragedy seeping into its very soil, it's hard to feel at ease in such a place. The discomfort with the Manor persisted into her adulthood as well. If someone had told me I'd have a sleepover at the Manor, she thinks to herself as she's looking at her husband drinking his coffee. I'd probably spit in their face and laugh. She almost chuckles at the irony of the whole situation - her freedom just within her grasp at the place that symbolizes the chains that bound her and still bind her.

Her eyes are fixed on the man that could offer her freedom. She shouldn't rely on a single man for her happiness. You've been down that road before. However, she is certain this time around, she'll be rid of her golden chains - once and for all.

"What's the plan after I return?" Satoru suddenly asks, finishing his mug of coffee.

Liv puts her mug down as she turns to him. "You will meet the Great Mother. If all goes according to plan, she will judge you worthy and will revoke the Vow."

"You make it sound so easy," he laughs as he glances at her sideways. "Come on, tell me the truth. We said no more secrets."

She bites her lower lip, somewhat hesitant with her response. The Great Mother of the Shuuin is a fickle creature. Aside from the fact that she's been kicking around for well over a millennium, she's a woman from a completely different time. At the peak of jujutsu sorcery, the Heian Era bore some of the most powerful sorcerers in history. It was a time of fear, bloodshed, and constant fighting between sorcerers and curses. That world is the birthplace of the Great Mother.

"You are the first outsider to meet her so she'll probably throw a fit," Liv says with uncertainty in her voice. "Anything from a screaming contest to an outpour of aggression is a possible reaction."

"I can handle it," he smirks. "I mean, no one likes a stark-raging woman but I'll manage. I'm the strongest, after all."

"I have no doubts that you will," Liv agrees, quirking her head to the side. "Still, we'll have to do this my way so just do what I say."

He pouts. "This is like the higher-ups meeting all over again."

She sighs. "I know and I'm sorry but we have to be careful around her."

"I thought you needed my help with this," he tries not to pout. "Seems like you're just ordering me around."

He frowns and Liv notices how his stubbornness is acting up. Satoru dislikes being told what to do. Charms of being spoiled rotten, she notes with a hint of disdain. She knows she's testing his patience by being adamant about the whole situation. While she's not backing down on this matter, she understands his frustrations - she felt them once as well. Luckily, he doesn't need any further convincing as he sighs then nods in agreement but says little else.

"Thank you," she says quietly and claps her hands in a praying manner before bowing to him in gratitude.

Satoru simply waves her off as he leans forward to reach for her empty mug. Realizing what he's trying to do, she swats his hand away. He stares at her, completely taken by surprise. She stares back, her brows furrowed as she grabs her empty mug and takes his out of his hand as well.

"You get ready for work," she says calmly, standing up. "I'll handle the dishes."

His lips slowly stretch into a smirk. "You settled into this lifestyle of a dutiful wife quickly."

She keeps her cool as she says, "You're a guest in this house, Satoru. I'm being polite."

The shit-eating grin that appears on his face afterward makes her wish to throw both mugs at his head but she merely rolls her eyes as she leaves for the kitchen.

Around 09:00, Liv and Satoru leave the Manor with their bags in tow. With Satoru heading straight for his mission in Fukushima, he is dressed in his uniform while Liv is wearing a casual tan outfit and black ankle boots. The mission was assigned to him two days before the wedding. He threw a fit at first, saying how they're robbing him of a wedding night (Liv rolled her eyes at the comment). Expectedly, Satoru didn't want to do it and Liv also didn't want to see him leave right after the wedding. She was hoping to have him meet the Great Mother after the wedding day. However, there are reports of strange disturbances in Fukushima which could be caused by a curse user rather than a random curse. The predicament of the situation is eerie and Liv reasoned with her husband that perhaps it's better to settle the matter now.

"Curses don't leave the places they're born at," she said, "but curse users can disappear at a moment's notice. Time is of the essence."

As such, Satoru didn't fight with the higher-ups and begrudgingly went along with their orders.

"We could've gone for a picnic or something since the weather is so nice," Satoru says somewhat apologetically and though she can't see his eyes, she knows he means it sincerely.

She shakes her head in response, responding jokingly, "Nonsense, I understand. Besides, I'm not a needy wife. I can survive without you for a week or two."

"I was trying to be considerate and you ruined it again," he lifts his blindfold briefly so she can see him roll his eyes dramatically. "Heartless woman."

Liv chuckles. "Big baby."

Satoru teases her back, "I'll text and call you every day for that insult."

"Please don't," she pleads half-teasingly and he chuckles as well.

The main road comes into view where Liv has her car parked on the parking space next to the sidewalk. Behind her vehicle is Ijichi who seemingly arrived early. He's waiting patiently next to the sleek black Toyota, his spectacles high on his nose, and his face and posture are neutral. She shakes her head, smiling at the man in a suit.

"Is it just me," she asks teasingly, "or does Ijichi look much older than he is?"

Satoru hums in response. "He's excellent at what he does but sometimes he just can't take the pressure."

"He needs time off," she corrects her husband.

Satoru agrees. "We are understaffed though and there's a lot of work so no time off just yet."

Liv knows he's not referring just to Ijichi but doesn't comment on it. Instead, she secretly gives him a pitiful look. As they reach the bottom of the staircase, they are approached by Ijichi. The man, whom Liv knows as a kind and professional, but anxious person, offers a gentle smile and a bow as a greeting.

"Liv-san," Ijichi says. "I hope you're well."

"Hello there, Ijichi," she says before returning the gesture. "It's been a while - well, not counting the reception."

Ijichi chuckles sheepishly. "Forgive me. We haven't had the chance to talk at the time."

"Don't worry about it, it's fine," she waves it off but her tone is too serious to be understood as a joke.

The manager bows again, this time apologetically. "Apologies, I should've at least greeted you properly at the reception."

Oh for the love of - "It's fine, it's fine. Just stop - that, whatever."

She glances at Satoru and Ijichi stops his apologizing as Satoru gives him his luggage to have it dropped in the back of the car.

"It shouldn't take me longer than a week to finish this mission," Satoru says. "I'll bring back some souvenirs."

She scoffs, crossing her arms. "If it ends up being another keychain, then don't bother. You sent me at least twelve over the years."

He smirks and he comes closer, leaning in. For a moment, she thinks he'll kiss her on the cheek. Ijichi seems to have the same idea so he turns his head around, giving them privacy. Instead of his lips touching her skin, she feels his hot breath next to her ear.

"Don't do anything stupid," he whispers. "They're still watching us."

She smirks. "Aww, you do have a heart."

"I'm serious, Liv," his voice is low as he mutters into her ear. "Please."

Liv is silent for a moment before she nods subtly. "Since you said 'please'."

He hums and takes her right hand, pressing a long kiss on the knuckle where her rings are. I forgot how soft his lips are. She tries not to laugh at the gesture; they're putting on a show after all and they both must look the part. With that said, she musters a soft smile for her husband though the slight tint on her cheeks is genuine.

"I'm off, darling," he says with his usual grin.

She nods. "See you later, dearest."

Satoru turns to Ijichi and the man immediately opens the back door for the sorcerer. Before he gets inside the car, Satoru lingers for a few seconds. It is a silent reminder to her to heed his warnings and when she nods in reassurance, he nods back and sits on the back seat. She watches as Ijichi closes the door and walks around the car toward the driver's seat. He offers a curt bow once more which she returns. A short moment later, the car's lights flash and she moves to the side as they drive by. She waves at them and for a brief moment, she catches Satoru lifting his blindfold just enough for his blue eye to peek through. Whether it is to alleviate his worries or to assuage hers, she's uncertain but she decides not to think much of it.

Instead, she throws her bag into the back of her car and the engine roars as she heads toward the penthouse.