CHAPTER 6: The Spy
His friend had always been an extremely laid-back person, especially when it came to women, effortlessly winning hearts here and there without concern for the consequences. On more than one occasion, he had caused headaches for the elders of the clan by rejecting the girls they had chosen for him to marry.
When they were younger, he had been part of the game, betting on who would win over the next unsuspecting victim first. However, over the years, he put an end to that competition when he met the girl who would change him and Satoru continued his adventures on his own.
Now, seeing him like this was unexpected. It was the first time his friend had shown such anxiety and caution in planning his next conquest. If he didn't know him, he might have thought he had been changed by that accident, although perhaps it was true.
—Why do you insist so much on me taking Mei Mei away? Considering how she took care of you and how close you've been, I thought the rumors were true and you were finally going to marry her. She didn't even allow me to visit you, it was surprising considering the elders never approved her decisions, I thought she a soft spot for me. I don't understand why things have changed. What have you done to her?
Gojo looked at him angrily; in response, he tugged at his hair, causing the black-haired man to complain and pull his ear. —Why do you always think it's my fault? You're the real responsible for introducing me to such an ambitious and fierce woman!
—I'm not to blame for you letting your hormones rule you all these years! You should have put a stop to it when the elders and I warned you! Besides, you've always known what she's like, I don't understand why you're complaining now, you empty-headed fool.
Satoru pulled at his hair again, this time harder, yanking out some strands. Suguru responded by hitting him on the forehead near the scar. —What kind of crappy friend are you? You should be helping me instead of lecturing me. I always knew that leaving Shoko to be with the boring Utahime would change you. Give me back my friend, you impostor.
Suguru swiftly rose from his seat to strike Satoru, but as he neared, he was repelled by the invisible shield of his Infinity. He was surprised because his friend's technique had never been so strong before. Up to that moment, it had always acted as a barrier preventing anyone from touching him, but now its range and power had increased. He stood up and saw his friend's mocking smile. —Well, well, it seems you weren't just busy with Mei Mei. From what I see, that accident get you to train. Any idea who might have caused it?
—It's one of those weirdos, a non-curse user with heavenly restriction. Apparently, he left no traces, and I'm not so sure he was only after valuable things. Anyone else would have thought twice before attacking me like that, but I'm not interested in that right now because he will come back when he knows he failed or to try to steal again. What I want from you is to take Mei Mei away for a while...
Geto raised an eyebrow, and now it was his turn to mock. —Since when did caution become your thing? You've never cared about breaking the hearts of your conquests. You, the irresistible Satoru Gojo, always get what you want, even when you're at your worst. Why the sudden worry regarding Mei Mei? Are you telling me you're actually serious? Have you finally fallen in love? —He chuckled at his friend's perplexed expression. — Do you want me to play best man as well? — He continued to laugh, observing Satoru's growing frustration and his struggle to find words to silence him. —I told you someday someone would bring you back down to earth and...
—Enough of your nonsense. Do you think I'm as naive as you? —Suguru stopped laughing and looked at him seriously. —Those women were only after my status and money, pretending to love me for their own gain. Why do you think I've preferred Mei Mei's company all this time? I appreciated her honesty, but unfortunately, she has betrayed our agreement. —He told him everything that had happened since he fell down that cliff up to the necklace. However, he omitted mentioning the flowers, the locket and how much he insisted on her accompanying him up to his mansion.
—I need to find that woman. I still have gaps in my memory, and she might have seen or known something more significant. Besides, it's curious that she hasn't come forward to claim any kind of reward. — Suguru arched his eyebrows in surprise. —You, better than anyone, know that anyone who recognizes me would have taken advantage of something like this. Even if she did show up, Mei Mei's presence is too overwhelming, especially at this moment. It would scare her away as it has done with the others.
Geto looked at him thoughtfully, suspecting his friend might be hiding something or hadn't fully recognized his own interest. With their years of friendship, Geto knew he could find that girl even with Mei Mei around. However, he was right about Mei Mei possibly scaring her off. If she had seen the attacker, it would be a missed opportunity to catch him. Perhaps he was imagining things, but most likely, he wanted information and to have some fun with her, as he did with all women. But he wouldn't pass up the chance to annoy him.
— Well, it's all to catch that guy, even though I won't be able to spend as much time with Utahime as I had planned. —Gojo rolled his eyes, making a face. — I know you two don't get along, but you'll have to show her respect while she's with me.
Satoru snorted and rolled his eyes again. — Why choose her when there are more interesting women out there? She's dull and temperamental. Consider Shoko! She's skilled, treats you better than she treats me, you've known each other for years, her family adores you, and she still loves you. In contrast, that woman's parents detest you; they only seek someone close to the emperor to marry her. You're wasting your time because you'll never be able to formalize anything with her. Furthermore, if they discover your clandestine meetings, both of you will be in trouble.
Geto looked at him, annoyed. — What you label as boredom is actually obedience, and what you perceive as ill-temper is simply seriousness, both of which you are unfamiliar with. I've always loved Shoko, but we were very young when we began our relationship. I only see her as a friend, and that's how it will remain because she's as carefree as you. However, Utahime understands our lifestyle. We both think alike; she understands that my duty as the strongest is to protect the weak. Besides, I'm striving to ascend in the emperor's legion, and when I do, I'll propose to her. She loves me; she demonstrates it by sneaking away to meet me. I've supported you in your endeavors, and as my friend, I expect reciprocity from you. Otherwise, you can find someone else to cover for your nonsense.
Satoru knew it was better not to keep pushing for now, but he planned to try again later. He knew Shoko was still in love with his friend and had done everything possible to bring them back together. They were both unpleasantly surprised when they discovered Utahime's existence and her relationship with Suguru. Shoko immersed herself into studying her healing technique to avoid being consumed by sadness, while he lost his partner in crime. Geto had always been obedient and rule-abiding, but meeting that woman made him more serious and obsessed with missions to rise in rank, claiming it was to protect the weak. —Of course, I've supported you! You're a great sorcerer, and we're the strongest, which is why I don't think she's right for you. I'm just being honest as your friend. —Satoru said. Geto was about to respond, but Satoru interrupted. —I won't mention Utahime anymore to avoid making you uncomfortable, but I won't change my opinion about her.
Geto knew it was pointless to keep arguing. As long as he didn't disrespect Utahime, everything would be fine. After all, he was his best friend, and they had supported each other despite their differences. —You'll see she's a good person. —He said.
Satoru glanced to the side. —Sure, let's continue with the plan for Mei Mei before she returns from the expedition. I've heard that the Kamos are going on an expedition in a few days; it could be your chance to get some strong curses from them. How did it go with Naoya and the Zenin?
Suguru smirked. —It went perfectly. —He said, and they both burst into laughter. —Naoya was very kind to give me some very interesting curses... and I finally have a rainbow dragon. That's why I came back before them.
—That's awesome! —Satoru clapped and patted him on the back. —Dragons are serious business. I can see a promotion coming soon.
—I hope so. It wasn't easy to catch and even harder to digest, but it was worth it. I'll take the opportunity to see what the Kamos have to offer.
—The dragon will catch Mei Mei's attention; maybe she'll even try to control it like she does with her crows. Let's see if you let her ride it to remember old times. —Satoru joked, giving him a playful slap. —Just kidding.
—Alright, I'll start preparing my squad to leave. I assume you'll be the one providing payment for this made-up mission.
—Yeah, don't worry about that. I'll give you a good amount to pay her, and I can even help you out with a little extra for yourself. Just keep her entertained for as long as possible. I'll accompany you part of the way to avoid suspicion, then I'll return here. I entrust it to you.
—I'll take care.
Kasumi arrived at the Gojo villa to apply for the job, although she would have preferred not to go because she felt a void in her stomach since she found out Satoru Gojo was getting married. Unfortunately, Naoya was expected to arrive soon, leaving her with no choice but to leave. Besides, Mai and Momo had insisted because the pay was much higher than average.
Upon arrival, she saw a large group of people lined up in two rows of men and women. Many were being rejected, especially the men and older women. When it was her turn, she found a boy with pink hair and a girl with brown hair conducting the screenings. The boy stared at her while she talked about her experience with Ema and Azumi, as she didn't want to mention the Zenin to avoid drawing attention, but he didn't seem to listen. —Excuse me, miss. Could you take off your hat? —Kasumi hesitated, feeling uneasy. —Sorry, it's to protect myself from dust and keep my hair in place. —The boy looked embarrassed and seemed like he was going to let it pass, but the girl beside him, who was questioning a nervous boy, intervened. —We need to make sure you're healthy and don't have lice or any of those bugs. Take it off or leave. —Miwa trembled nervously under the girl's stern gaze.
—Nobara, please. —The pink-haired boy approached her and whispered very quietly. —You can't just dismiss her like that. Remember what Gojo-san mentioned; she might be the one. She's quite attractive, wouldn't you agree? —Nobara shot him a furious glance and then at Miwa.
—Do as you wish, Yuji, but she has to take that thing off her head. —Nobara responded sternly.
Yuji turned nervously to Miwa. —Could you please take off your hat for a moment? We just want to make sure everything is okay, you know. You can put it back on afterward.
Resigned, Miwa took off her hat, and Yuji looked at her with satisfaction. She was very pretty, with big blue eyes and a slender figure, although her hair was black like everyone else's, with no hint of blue anywhere. —Everything's fine; you can go in and sit with the others.
At the end of the day, only three other girls and one boy remained. The young people who had evaluated them introduced themselves as Yuji and Nobara, taking them on a tour and showing them some parts of the villa where they would start working and the places where they would sleep.
During the first few days, Kasumi was nervous about running into Satoru, but fortunately, he had gone on a mission and would return in a few weeks. However, he had left with Mei-san. She was bothered by giving him importance and felt like an idiot for getting her hopes up. Putting that issue aside, she had liked the change; the place was more spacious and had a calmer atmosphere, very different from the Zenins', which had always felt gloomy and intimidating. The villa boasted several gardens and a tranquil pond where dragonflies and hummingbirds could be seen at sunset.
She had gotten along very well with Yuji, who was kind and had offered to guide her around the place, especially since she was still unfamiliar with it. However, her friendship with Yuji seemed to displease Nobara, who was sharp and brusque. She longed for Mai and Momo, but returning to the Zenin villa was not an option. However, they had promised to visit her once things settled down. Her only comfort was retreating to the forest. She had heard that the search in the surrounding areas where Satoru had been found had ceased. Therefore, she seized the afternoons when she finished her chores early to go to the forest with her siblings.
A few days later, Yuji told her, they had to organize Satoru's main room, Miwa's heart fluttering as she followed him, while he explained what they had to do. When she entered, she was impressed; the room was huge, with a large bed, fine wooden furniture with intricate decorations, curtains with delicate embroideries, and two smaller rooms that corresponded to a bathroom with a large tub and a closet with several mirrors and silk kimonos.
Miwa cleaned and organized, gradually realizing that he possessed everything one could wish for. His opulence shattered the remnants of her illusions. Surely, he had forgotten everything as soon as he woke up in that room surrounded by so many comforts. Even working tirelessly for a year wouldn't afford her the luxury of buying just one of his robes. As she touched the furniture and the soft silk clothes, she couldn't help but feel insignificant in comparison, and that was just a glimpse of everything he had, while she was nothing more than a talentless monkey, as the Zenin would say.
They were about to finish when they heard voices and footsteps approaching until the door opened, and there he was. A little disheveled, with a small scar on his forehead, but as handsome as when they said goodbye. He stood still, his sky-blue eyes fixed on her. Yuji bowed to greet him, and she followed suit. Her stomach felt heavy and she wanted to cry when she heard his voice.
—Hi, Yuji! Thanks for fixing up the room, I couldn't wait to get back. Tell the others to prepare the tub; I need a bath. —He approached and tousled Yuji's hair. Yuji raised his head and saw Gojo looking at Miwa, who kept her head bowed. —Who's she? It's weird that you're not with Nobara.
—She's one of the new girls, sir. I was showing her the chores and how to prepare her room. —Yuji explained.
Satoru didn't take his eyes off her for a second as he approached. —What's your name? —Satoru asked.
—Kasumi Miwa, sir. —she replied, her voice hoarse due to her dry throat.
—You don't need to keep bowing your head; save that for the old folks. —He said. She lifted her head, looking straight ahead. It was her, finally there! Those blue eyes were unmistakable. After weeks of contemplating how to find her, she was finally in his room, within his arm's reach. He never thought he would find her on the first try. It was ironic that she came seeking employment rather than a reward. He wanted to do so many things at once, yet he found himself at a loss for words and unsure of how to proceed. His mind went blank, and a tingling sensation ran through his hands. Something told him that if he used his usual flirty ways, nerves would betray him. Besides, Yuji was present, and as much as he trusted him, this didn't concern him. He was afraid of scaring her off and her disappearing again without a trace. He had to plan carefully how to approach; he had to be very careful because she was different, she...
—Yuji, go with Miwa and let her help you.
The young man left the room with Miwa trailing behind. She unsettled him; he felt a desire to touch her hair and uncover all that it hid. He longed to have her close, to be pampered by her as on that day. He wanted to understand why she had rejected him and discover how much resistance she could muster. But he was afraid of ruining everything because she was not like the others.
"Since when did caution become your thing?... Have you finally fallen in love?... I told you someday someone would bring you back down to earth…". Geto's words began to echo in his head. During the made-up expedition, he had continued to pester him with those ideas. Suddenly, he felt a chill as he realized how much she had affected him. He seemed like an inexperienced kid, his friend's words struggling to make sense, yet he silenced them. Those were just nonsense. Suguru thought that way because he had fallen in love, but Satoru was clear about one thing: he was young and handsome, and he intended to continue enjoying his freedom. He would continue to defy the old folks who insisted him to settle down and start a family. Falling in love meant giving someone a great power over him, and he wasn't willing to do that; only fools like Suguru did that. What that woman caused was merely curiosity, a challenge he had never encountered before. He would continue to have fun with whomever he pleased.
On the other hand, Miwa felt her soul sink. Her worst fear had come true: he hadn't recognized her, and his indifference had deeply hurt her. She had longed so much to see him again, only to be deeply disappointed. It was normal for him not to pay attention to the servants. Someone like him didn't need her, a person without any talent. Furthermore, considering he was engaged to Mei-san, it was logical that he wouldn't notice anyone else.
—Are you okay, Miwa? —Kasumi snapped out of her thoughts and tried to smile, but it came out as a forced smile.
—Yes, it's just that... I've never seen so much luxury.
Yuji put his hand on her back in a reassuring gesture. — The other rooms are similar, although his is the largest and has the best view. It's very beautiful, isn't it? Although it's tedious to clean, Gojo-san is good; he doesn't rush us like the others and gives us extra food and desserts. You'll like him; he's great.
When Satoru finished his bath, he changed and sent for Yuji.
—Tell me, how did it go? Whom did you find? Have you been able to use your technique? —Satoru inquired.
—There are four, sir. I think we were lucky, and one of them is the one you seek. —Yuji smiled happily. —I've been practicing as you instructed me, and there's something strange about Miwa-san. Usually, she's calm, but now when she saw you, I sensed her soul stirring, and even afterwards, when I touched her, she was trembling.
Gojo chuckled. —Could it be that she was impressed by me?
Yuji didn't know what to say. Gojo had been urging him to use his technique to find that woman, and now that it seemed he had succeeded, Gojo was taking it lightly.
—Let her rest and send dinner to my room with one of the new girls. I want to meet them all, and at the same time, you can practice your technique. Then, tell me if there's any difference with Miwa-san. And I've been thinking about your reward; would you be interested in leaving domestic chores and joining the group of sorcerers? I've seen for a while now that you have talent for combat. It would be a waste for you to continue doing these things.
Yuji smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. —Really! You're amazing, Gojo-san! —He hugged him, then quickly let go, embarrassed by his boldness. —Sorry, I've been wanting to make the change for a while.
Gojo smiled and ruffled his hair. —Don't worry; your grandfather would be proud of you. And tell Nobara too; she has an interesting technique. But let's finish with this matter of the girls first, and then you can make the change.
Throughout the morning, Miwa had to endure the incessant chatter of one of the women who had arrived with her. Apparently, Gojo-san had sent for her to spend the night with him, which reminded Miwa of Momo's words, calling him a shameless womanizer. What made it worse, that day they had been assigned together to clean one of the halls, and Miwa had to listen to every detail about the clarity of his eyes, the length of his eyelashes, and the size of his hands, among other things. She ended up feeling sick to her stomach and asked Yuji to excuse her for a moment to freshen up, all the while listening to the other girl claim that she was the only one who should benefit from her proximity to Gojo-san.
As soon as Miwa left the hall, she took a deep breath and looked at the sky to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. Naoya had led her on just to sleep with her, while Gojo-san had led her on merely for amusement. She didn't know which of the two was worse. She wiped her eyes with her hands and headed to the bathroom, unaware that someone was watching her from afar.
What followed for Kasumi was equally or even worse than before; besides her non-stop talking the woman began to respond to Yuji when he told her to focus on her work. And for the first time since she arrived, Kasumi appreciated Nobara's strong character, silencing her.
The only good thing about that day was that she finished her work early and took the opportunity to go to the forest alongside her brothers. They always managed to cheer her up and were her best company throughout all those years. They never cared about her hair, and they even found it interesting that she could see things they couldn't. Their antics and laughter reminded her of the real reason she had started working from a young age and why she was now in the Gojo mansion. It had been selfish to consider forgetting everything and leaving them behind. It was time for her to stop worrying about men who weren't worth it and focus on helping her brothers to have better opportunities. They were all that mattered.
—Kasumi, you've been acting strange these days. Come swim with us, the water's cool! —Her brother splashed water at her and ran off when she started chasing him.
None of them noticed that someone else was watching them closely.
Notes:
I apologize in advance for Satoru's foolishness, but everything has an explanation u_u. I wanted to put everything together in this chapter, but I fell short after the announcement of Akira Toriyama's passing.
Candle Fox was born because of him, when I wanted to know the details of Vegeta and Bulma's relationship, and it was because of him that my love for anime, manga, and everything related to Japan was born. Candle Fox wouldn't be here today writing if he hadn't ignited the spark. His passing has hurt me more than I could have imagined, and I wanted to take this weekend to say goodbye. I still can't see the tributes made to him without tears welling up in my eyes.
Dragon Ball was my handkerchief of tears and my refuge every time I went through tough times. His songs and characters lifted my spirits more than once. It was a hug for my heart when there was nothing else. That's why Candle Fox is a faithful believer in the message of hope that Dragon Ball left behind.
Thank you for so much joy and for your company; from now on, the sky shines for you. Today Shenlong, KaioSama, and the characters you brought to life welcome you on your new journey. Your legacy remains in our hearts. Thank you very much, Akira Toriyama.
The next chapter I'll make sure Satoru eats each and every one of his words U_U with love, of course.
Thank you for reading.