Chapter II: Charmed To Meet You by: ArchonLegacy

"Me? Just someone who's stronger than you."

When Gojo spoke these words, he knew there was no going back. Even before he had stepped foot inside this quaint cafe, the sorcerer had sensed her malevolent presence within. His innate Six Eyes granted him the unique and unnatural ability to perceive the world around him on a level far beyond even the greatest sensory jujutsu wielders. Even with its full extent limited by the opaque blindfold obscuring his vision, Gojo felt the evil miasma roll against him like waves from the moment he entered the building. This was not cursed energy as he knew it. It was familiar yet totally alien. Hard to portray in clear words, but the best way Gojo could assess this type of energy was just a visceral darkness.

Sitting at a cafe table while focused on her phone, she was fashionably dressed with her vividly dark red hair containing white streaks and tied into twintails. He was more than used to the cursed energy stemming from the negative emotions of humans in the forms of rage, melancholy, and terror. But the woman in the cafe, though Gojo was certain she was not remotely human, seemed to be filled with the purest strain of such negativity. The sense of foulness and wrongness within her presence had caused Gojo to rely on a significant measure of self-restraint to not immediately exorcize her on sight. Rushing to judgment would have zero benefit. There were still too many unknowns. Not to mention that the sorcerer was able to detect the presence of six ordinary humans within the cafe. He had no intention of causing collateral damage to innocent civilians if he could avoid it.

That all changed the moment Gojo sensed her begin to harness that wicked miasma. As she ominously counted down, the energy wrapped around the haplessly unaware cafe employees like fiery serpents. The same had been attempted on him, but Gojo was completely unperturbed, since his Limitlessability ensured his safety from whatever she was trying to accomplish. Her miasma simply could not even make contact with him. But the threat that she posed was clear enough. His words had been carefully chosen, utilizing the full weight of his authority as the greatest sorcerer of the present era that had sent countless Cursed Spirits to flee just from his name alone. Gojo gave her one final warning. A last chance to change the course of fate away from certain death. Not many of his enemies ever received such mercy from him.

She had seemingly heeded his warning at first, probably instinctively feeling the peril without fully understanding what, or rather whom, she was facing. However, Gojo failed to predict the subsequent rage that bubbled from within her, as though she was furious with the very fact that she had backed down in the first place. Well, this could be problematic. For a single instant, the human disguise had slipped, and her true visage was revealed. Her skin turned a dull ash and brown hue. Neat pearly white teeth sharpened until they more so resembled predatory fangs. Blood-red sclera with pale white irises filled her eyes as slitted pupils narrowed in a hateful glare aimed solely toward her intended prey. At this point, Gojo expected conflict would be inevitable. So, when she had demanded to know his exact identity, Gojo instinctively answered as he always had when preparing to exorcize Cursed Spirits. There was no arrogance in his words. He understood it. She would know it. She was weaker, and he would put an absolute end to her very existence.

"I'm going to enjoy tearing you limb from limb and hearing you scream." Her demonic voice promised only a torturous and painful death.

Yep, that definitely was the right trigger. As was Gojo's plan from the beginning. He sensed her miasma release its hold on the six employees, with the energy instead coalescing around her like a violent storm. Her focus was now solely on him rather than the ordinary humans in the cafe. How do I celebrate somehow not dying? Getting myself into another fight with someone who very much wants to kill me. I'm beginning to think Yuji was right. Maybe I am the problem.

"Any last fucking words, you bastard?" Her sharp teeth formed a sadistic grin.

"So I guess I'm not getting that $16.00 from you anytime soon?"

Before she could even react to his casual taunt, the familiar sound of bells and chimes interrupted the tense atmosphere. It was followed by several pairs of footsteps as a large group stepped inside, excitedly chatting amongst themselves and completely ignorant of the battle that was about to take place. Even before Gojo turned his head toward their direction, he knew that there were five of them. And none of them were human. I just seem to attract trouble here in America. One male and four females. While their miasmas were nowhere near as abundant as the woman immediately next to him, the sensation was the same to Gojo. To his mild surprise however, their energies appeared as a fuchsia color. Were they different types of nonhumans from her? Still, their sudden appearance was surely no coincidence. Her backup?

"Ugh. What's their kind doing up here too?" She scoffed with the disdain clear as day in her voice.

Gojo heard her sharp tone of revulsion, at least confirming that they were unaffiliated with her presence. So they don't exactly know each other. By the time he had turned back to face the woman next to him, her human visage was fully back; though, the look of irritation was still present in her expression. In fact, the scowl on her face appeared to deepen as the group took up a table on the other side of the cafe.

She let out a sigh of exasperation, pressing her fingers against her temple as if trying to alleviate a serious headache. "Listen, you prat, I'm not in the mood for this shit. So, consider yourself lucky." Quickly draining the rest of her drink in one go, she stood up and took a few steps away from Gojo. She turned back to address him, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You know what? I'm feeling a bit generous. Here." A ten, five, and one dollar bills appeared out of thin air, slowly drifting down to rest on the wooden table she had been once sitting at. "We Vees do like to help out the poor commoners every now and then."

"Thank you, miss!" Gojo bowed. He would not take the gift for granted. Any hostility had completely dissipated, as the prospect of finally having some food excited him.

She just stared at Gojo somewhat incredulously. They had just moments ago been prepared to kill each other, and now at the chance for a simple meal, he was bowing to her. "Why of course, it's pennies to someone as rich and influential as me. Hm, you know what, I think you look a lot better bowing like that to me." An image of the white haired human dressed in a butler uniform catering to her every whim briefly flashed in her mind.

She laughed lightly as she walked out the door, the soft tinkle of bells signaling her departure from the cafe.

Maybe, she isn't so bad. Surely not the monster Gojo had initially thought she was. There was some redeeming quality of kindness within her after all.

"Um. Excuse me, sir?" It was the female cashier from earlier, approaching him.

"Oh, right! I can finally pay for my meal. Here's the sixteen doll- Wait. What's that?"

She was holding a small black tray with a lengthy strip of white paper.

"The bill, sir. Your… um… friend had an open drinks tab running. Since she just left without paying, I'm afraid you'll have to cover her tab. The total will be $308.00."

She had given the sorcerer sixteen measly dollars, while leaving him with her bill that cost hundreds more.

Gojo had been completely wrong about her.

She was an absolute demon!

This sucks. Gojo's head was slumped over the hard wooden surface of the cafe table that demoness had once been sitting at. A silver landline phone was centimeters away from his face. Well aware that he was completely and totally broke, the female cashier had been kind enough to lend him the cafe's telephone to call his friends for help. Not that it would matter much since every single one of his associates were living across the world in Japan. He tried contacting everyone he knew. Utahime. Yuji. Nanami. Hell, he had even tried to reach that old geezer Yoshinobu. All the numbers he had attempted to contact were not even in service. As though none of them even existed. What's going on? Where exactly am I?

Unbeknownst to the hapless and poor sorcerer, the five individuals at the table on the other side of the cafe had been eyeing him with interest the whole time. It was not long until one of their number made the first move. Gojo noticed the presence of someone sliding into the chair across from him. It was one of the nonhumans, and the sole male of the group who had come to speak to him. He had black hair spiked upward with pointed ears and a black goatee. A distinctive black heart was tattooed along the side of his neck. Despite this newcomer to the table, Gojo did not bother lifting his head from the table.

"Hey there."

Gojo did not respond. He was too preoccupied trying to figure out why he could not reach his comrades.

Unbothered, there was a suaveness and confidence in the nonhuman's voice. "Couldn't help but see you and your girlfriend-"

"Not my girlfriend." She's a demoness that cursed me with debt.

There was an excited twinkle in the male's eyes. Perhaps because he finally got an answer from Gojo or the revelation that the sorcerer was actually single interested the nonhuman. "You're right. I guess not, especially after leaving such a nice, handsome guy with the bill. Like that's so harsh. A real grade-A bitch. Someone like you definitely deserves better."

Hold on a minute. Am I getting hit on? Gojo lifted his head to give a blank stare, from beneath the blindfold, at the nonhuman.

"Want a kiss to make you feel better?" He gave Gojo a smoldering look.

Yeah. He's trying to flirt with me. Was this how "Megumi-chan" felt during our Formation B operation?

"Look, I'm flattered. But, no thanks."

There were some soft laughs from the table of his friends. A frown flashed across the nonhuman's face at the flat rejection. Gojo perceived the fuschia colored miasma gathering around the individual at his table. What's this guy up to?

"... Are you sure about that?" The male's voice dripped with seductive undertones. Pink and red hearts seemed to flow around his face as he directed his charms toward Gojo.

"Yes. Not interested."

There was a look of complete surprise and confusion in the nonhuman's expression, as if he were taken aback by Gojo's second rejection; this one even blunter than the previous.

The laughter from his friends were now raucous as they poked fun at the situation.

"Guess, he just doesn't swing that way!" Said one of the females who wore an outfit that could barely be called a top.

"Or maybe you're just losing your touch, Ace!" A cheery voice called out with an amused giggle.

"Shut up, Apple! I'd like to see you do any better!" He growled back with a look of annoyance.

"Gladly!"

With a frustrated grunt, Ace swiftly left the table without another word to Gojo. Immediately replacing him was the female nonhuman who had just spoken out. She seemed more bubbly in personality with her long blond hair tied into a ponytail. Is this a speed dating function or something? "Hi, I'm Apple!"

From beneath the blindfold, Gojo narrowed his eyes. "Your parents named you after a fruit?"

"Something like that…" She tittered. "I think the name fits me, since I taste real sweet. Care to try?"

"I'm deathly allergic to apples." Gojo's deadpan response did not seem to dissuade her enthusiasm.

"C'mon. Don't be like that. It's spring break! Don't you wanna just get loose and have some fun? If you're interested, I know my girlfriend would love to join us. Threesomes are just so much hotter." Apple gave him a wide, toothy grin, pointing toward the general direction of her friends to whom he assumed was her girlfriend.

She's forward. I'll give her that much. Are they just going to take turns trying to get with me? It was like a contest with Gojo as the main prize. Still, it's nice to know that I'm so captivating. Take that, Utahime! People do want me! I must be in my popular phase.

A crooked smile appeared on the sorcerer's face because of the smug satisfaction of proving Utahime wrong. Unfortunately for Gojo, his companion at the table assumed that such a positive change in demeanor was because of her offer. Apple's grin widened even further. From her perspective, it would only take one more push. She directed the full force of her charm ability toward Gojo. Pink and red hearts danced around her face and Gojo's body. However, the charms failed to make any contact with Gojo.

Huh. I forgot she was here. What should he do in this situation? They did not pose a direct threat to him or the rest of the humans in the area. Pretty much harmless on all accounts aside from their apparent obsession with trying to sleep with people. Exorcizing them just seemed like an unnecessary application of violence. What to do… Well, Gojo might as well have some fun with the situation he found himself in. Anything to distract the sorcerer from the fact that he had no way of paying off the cafe bill left behind by that demoness.

Apple was enjoying herself.

It was rare for a charmed human to last this long without trying to fuck her on sight even in a public setting. The guy's self-restraint must be pretty damn impressive. Now she understood why her fellow succubus, Ace, had such difficulty with seducing the young man sitting across from the table. There was entertainment to be had in a difficult pursuit, and she found her prey to be witty and more than easy on the eyes. It was superficial, sure, but Apple was a succubus. Physical attraction was the nature of the game.

But the end was near, and she would claim her prize. Apple had seen the smile after she offered him the chance for a threesome with herself and her girlfriend. Men were so easy. In the end, they always made decisions with their lower half rather than their brains. Sure, this encounter would technically not count in the demon duel between Verosika and her stupid ex-boyfriend, but at this point Apple could care less about that. She was horny, and she wanted this white haired specimen of a man right now. Exihibitionism was not really her thing, but Apple would make an exception for this guy. A cafe's not that bad of a place to fuck in, really. And the setting would be a fun first for me.

"So, how about it? Me and you?" Apple focused her succubus magic on him. He must be so hot and bothered by now.

"If you're offering… then how could I refuse?" He stated cooly, reaching for the blindfold covering eyes.

Not exactly what I want uncovered for me. But hey, it'd be nice to see his eyes for once. Such a good-looking face must have at least a decent pair. Still, hopefully this'll give him the right hint of what I want. Apple's gaze moved downwards to her outfit, seductively removing the straps of her minidress so that only her black lace bra remained on the upper portion of her body. So what do you think? She looked up to gauge his reaction.

Huh?

The moment her dark red eyes made contact with his gaze, everything just seemed to halt. Nothing else mattered, except the sight in front of her. An image that would stay with Apple for the rest of her existence. Blessed with the sight of his whole face, Apple forgot how to breathe for a few moments. His hair was no longer spiky with the blindfold now hanging around his neck. Apple very much preferred seeing this man with his hair down framing such an otherworldly visage. And his eyes… Apple had never seen anything like them before. The deepest pools of pure, crystal blue. She could stare into them for the rest of time. If the eyes were truly the windows to the soul, then she would gladly let him have hers. Just looking at his visage with her unworthy eyes felt sinful in itself, which was ironic given that Apple was a Hellborn succubus. Just why did the world around him seem to be sparkling? Apple did not care about any of it. She just stared, unblinking, trying to memorize every single beautiful detail. Then his alluring words filled her thoughts.

"Let's go, Apple. Today, I'll help you understand limitless satisfaction."

Apple had found her way to paradise.

"Apple! Apple!"

Freezing cold water suddenly splashed against her face. Apple's eyes immediately opened. "What the fuck?!" Her head now dripping with droplets of icy water, Apple glared at the figures hovering over her. "The Hell was that for?!"

"You were out cold. I was so worried about you." It was Apple's girlfriend Coco who gave her a tight hug.

Huh?

"Yeah, Apple. What gives? One minute you're getting ready to fuck the guy, and the next you're passed out on the floor. We took you outside." Ace said with a concerned look, handing her a beach towel to dry off.

What?

Then, the vivid memories of what she had experienced came rushing into her mind. Her face flushed a bright shade of red and pink. Did I, a succubus, just lose to a human?

"He didn't do anything weird to you, right? Cause if he did I'll go back there and fucking murder him." Coco said threateningly as a small ball of fire appeared around her clenched fist.

Apple quickly shook her head, raising her arms to form an X in denial. "No way, nothing happened. I just… I think I had a fainting spell is all. Must be because of all this hot weather." She laughed awkwardly, trying to reassure them.

Ace and Coco exchanged a disbelieving look but said nothing. Hell was far more intense in temperature, nothing in the human world could cause a succubus to overheat. Yet for now, they would not press Apple further on what happened.

"Ok then. Well, I'm glad you're feeling better. The others are already around the stage. Verosika's concert will start soon, so we should head over." Coco explained as she helped Apple up to her feet.

"Right… the demon duel."

"You sure you okay? You can sit this one out to rest. I'm sure we'll be able to beat those punk imps anyways." Ace said, offering her a way out.

Apple shook her head. "No. I'm good. I can do this fine." She flashed Coco and Ace a bright grin. "Now let's go have some fun."

Maybe a whole lot of meaningless sex with spring breakers would calm her nerves. Try as she might, Apple could not stop thinking about those strange blue eyes.