Notes:
Vera here ️
Well, here I bring you one of the chapters that will perhaps be one of the most important and interesting of this work.
I know that this chapter you are about to read will leave you wanting to know more about what happened seven years ago with Satoru and Utahime and, by the way, it will reveal a big surprise ️.
Likewise, here those who suspected Katsumoto will have an answer to their suspicions towards this assistant.
I hope you like this action-packed chapter and by the way, you get to understand all the information that will be described here 👀.
Now without further ado, go get your popcorn and your favorite drinks and enjoy the episode, which, also has a small, but very small reference to something seen in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever movie. Let's see how many of you spot it 👀.
Let's start ️
sorry if there are any mistakes in the translation, I'm translating this at 2 am
Chapter 18. We All Have Somebody To Protect
"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you angry." - Gloria Steinem
July 17.
02:15 p.m.
Tokyo.
What should have been a day of rest was turning into Katsumoto's worst nightmare.
The bullet train ride from Kyoto to Tokyo had become a torment that felt eternal, and no wonder, Yuta's cursed energy suffocated the attendant all the way. Filling him with a great sense of fear and anguish.
Anger was consuming Yuta completely, and that was reflected in his gaze, which was fixed and dark, his hands trembling with the same anger he felt for having discovered the truth in Kyoto. The one that sharpened the wound of seven years ago.
Katsumoto, on the other hand, was a mess.
Adrenaline was coursing through his veins like an icy torrent. A wave of panic had swept over him, racing his heart to a deafening pace. He could even swear that his heart felt like it would jump out of his throat, as that heartbeat thundered loudly in his ears. His survival instinct was screaming inside him, demanding that he flee from this place.
Yuta's last-minute call to leave urgently for Tokyo had sent him into a spiral of anxiety.
Suddenly going to the capital of that country meant only one thing and that was that Yuta had already found his main objective, which was to find Maki Zenin. That had been his obsession ever since he returned from abroad.
Katsumoto knew Okkotsu wanted answers about what happened seven years ago. Answers that in one way or another, he had helped find.
The cold sweat was still running down the assistant's forehead, as well as he felt a great tension tightening in his chest, the anguish was really consuming him from the inside. And more than at that moment, they had finally arrived at their destination in that great city.
On the other hand, Yuta had to be strong not to lose his sanity. Especially since he knew that the truth was just a step away from being revealed.
They both knew that something big was about to happen once they passed through those big doors that welcomed anyone who entered the Tokyo-based Gojo residence.
02:30 p.m.
At that moment, the special grade sorcerer and his assistant were waiting in the main lobby of that magnificent residence. They were waiting for a member of the clan or a servant to receive them and grant them permission to enter.
That lobby had thin wooden walls and a sliding door with a beautiful drawing of a large white tiger through which one could enter the main area of the residence.
That place had some fine and elegant armchairs, on one of its walls hung a painting that could easily be auctioned for several million. There were also several tables with very old vases with beautiful traditional drawings. The room was also adorned with a lamp or two with the clan's coat of arms.
Yuta could not sit still, so he was pacing back and forth in that hallway, walking very thoughtfully, while his right hand covered his mouth at times.
He seemed to be planning something or rather, he was finishing organizing his next move and that could be noticed in the way his brow furrowed and his eyebrows drew together.
That was a sign that he was analyzing and reviewing everything he was going to ask. Although that did not take away the fury that was plastered on his face.
For a moment, he stopped in front of the painting they had in that hall, which was one of Sugawara no Michizane, where he was portrayed alone on the shore of a beach, looking towards the horizon on a night illuminated by a crescent moon with the sea at his back and a tree with thick roots on one side of him.
That scene was very special, since in the historical context of that illustration, it portrayed the exile of his ancestor, where the man's rivals conspired against him to have him expelled because he was considered a threat to their political plans.
Yuta felt that he had this connection and resemblance to his ancestor, since in one way or another, both the one he once considered a relative, as well as the "others" who were his rivals, conspired to get him to leave Japan.
But just as Sugawara had returned to take revenge by cursing his enemies, Okkotsu had returned to discover and reveal the whole truth.
He could not take his eyes off that picture, he was analyzing one last time if what he was about to do was the right thing to do while his hands held tightly the strap of his sword sheath, which was across his chest. He felt that he should not let go of it, as he might be using it soon.
He observed the melancholy face of his ancestor, as well as the desolate night that accompanied him. So were many of his nights abroad, in complete solitude, longing only to be with Maki again.
Yuta could not stand idly by, he felt that Sugawara would have sought the truth no matter what.
His hands continued to tighten the strap across his chest. Her heart told her that she had to have that conversation with Satoru whether she wanted to or not, and if he refused, she had no choice but to fight him.
Okkotsu took his right hand to his pants pocket, and from there he took out something discreetly and placed it on his right wrist –"I just hope this all goes well"- he said quietly to himself, trying to relax his shoulders.
He turned to look at his assistant, to whom he had turned his back all this time.
"Katsumoto" Yuta named him in a very deep voice.
The assistant was sitting in one of those fine armchairs, moving his foot desperately due to the nerves of being in that place.
That call made him jump slightly, standing up quickly while holding something tightly in his hands.
"Yes, sir?"
"I'm sorry I dragged you into all this when I clearly told you that you could take a few days off" Yuta said in a calm voice.
The assistant swallowed hard. He was trying to hide his nervousness. Just as he seemed to be hiding something else.
"It's my job to accompany you and help you in any way I can" he pretended to be calm.
Yuta nodded his head yes.
"Seriously, thank you very much for what you have done for me so far" a small smile lifted the corners of his lips, "Without you I would never have found Maki, let alone my children, and for that, I will always be grateful"
Katsumoto bowed, leaning far forward.
"I was only fulfilling..." He hesitated slightly, biting the inside of his cheek fleetingly, "With the mission you gave me, my lord" he rejoined.
"Again, thank you very much" Yuta took a deep breath "Well, did we bring all the papers on the sorcerer killer case, right, as well as the documents I asked for?" he asked, watching as the assistant clasped his hands and dug his nails into the small plastic folder containing the most recent reports, as well as other important papers.
Katsumoto nodded his head.
"E-everything is here as ordered" he tried to sound calm. He tried not to make the chattering of his teeth audible.
"Very good. Because I will need all the evidence we have, as well as all the information you managed to get me" commented Yuta, before turning again to look at that picture and continue refining the last questions and arguments he was building in his head.
As well as planning his last moves in case he had to fight Satoru. For that he literally had an ace up his sleeve.
That would be quite a risky plan, but he needed answers as to why Satoru took him away from Maki seven years ago.
On the other hand, Katsumoto's mind kept ringing the phrases.
"HE ALREADY KNOWS! OKKOTSU ALREADY KNOWS ALL THE TRUTH! I MUST ESCAPE FROM HERE! I'M IN TROUBLE! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME! IT'S THE END OF ME!"her mind screamed loudly. His fingernails were digging into the plastic where the documents about what he had discovered about Maki's supposed death and about the Fushiguro children were also on it.
His instinct told him to run away. But he couldn't, and his legs didn't respond.
Unfortunately escaping from there was not an option, for if he fled he would raise Okkotsu's suspicions. Suspicions that he had been hiding quite well as he had been ordered to do since he had been assigned that job as assistant to the second strongest sorcerer.
Katsumoto bit his tongue, only thus stopping his teeth from chattering, trying to control the noise so that Yuta would not hear him.
The attendant took his seat again, only this way he could control the trembling that invaded his whole body, while they continued waiting in that elegant and ancient hall of the Gojo residence.
And no wonder, the aura Okkotsu was giving off was too overwhelming at times. It was almost as overwhelming as Gojo being annoyed.
They were distant relatives for a reason. But perhaps that afternoon they would cut ties.
The special grade sorcerer turned to his assistant once again.
"Katsumoto..." he called his name again in a serious voice.
"Yes, sir?" asked the assistant, turning to look at him.
Yuta again took a deep breath. He was trying to calm down, he had to behave "normal", he simply had to disguise his anger. He even rubbed his wrists, but above all, he seemed to be meticulously adjusting his right sleeve.
"Whatever happens in here. Please, I order you not to reveal the location of Maki and my children to anyone at the headquarters, understood?" He said rather seriously, "Even if something happens to me once I go in to talk to Satoru. Please, I want you to help them flee the country. I have an acquaintance in Africa who would help us no matter what, okay? If anything happens to me, I want you to contact him immediately"
The assistant nodded.
"Understood…" Katsumoto swallowed saliva to try to undo the lump that was forming in his throat.
He tried to control himself, he had to keep acting a little longer. Just until Satoru or Ijichi talked to Okkotsu.
But it seemed that his nerves at being there, at that moment with that sorcerer, would make him give away a truth that he had been asked to keep to himself.
His heart could not take it anymore. He had to tell Yuta everything he was hiding and how he really found Maki's grave, as well as the report of her death and how he discovered that those two children were his sons.
He had to reveal who it was that provided him with all that information.
"Sir... there is something very important I must tell you..." he dared to speak. His voice was barely audible. His heart wanted to jump out of his throat.
Yuta turned once again to his assistant.
"What's wrong? Katsumoto"
"I..." He didn't have time to explain the important thing he had to tell her. He quickly stood up when he noticed someone approaching.
The sliding door opened, letting in Ijichi with his elegant bearing, dressed as always in an impeccable suit and next to him, came a servant of the clan.
That assistant now looked more tired and finished than Yuta remembered, he had more wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and also on his forehead. He also had some gray hair adorning his hair, a product of the stress that Satoru continued to cause him even with the passing of the years.
But it was not only the stress caused by the albino that had made the man look much older in age.
Ijichi since seven years ago, had become the leader and the main assistant director of the sede. The one who has all the control of both the information not only of the missions, but also of all the staff and students who once went to the academy.
"Welcome," Ijichi greeted politely, although he could feel his nerves on edge due to the cursed energy that the guest was giving off, "Okkotsu, w-we didn't expect your visit so suddenly" he hesitated slightly.
He was really surprised to see that man there. And by his presence alone, he knew Okkotsu was upset.
"I have come to speak with Satoru" answered the special grade sorcerer in a firm voice, "Is he here at the moment?"
"What did you come to talk to him about?" Ijichi asked, camouflaging his nervousness with curiosity.
"It is about the case of the sorcerer killer. I understand that Satoru wanted a breakthrough in the case and I have come to give him that breakthrough and more so now that we already have the first results of the investigation. Besides I have come to talk to him about some pending matters" He answered with total calm, his heavy aura changed to a more "calm" one.
He had to look and feel as non-threatening as possible to be allowed to pass.
Ijichi adjusted his glasses.
"I understand, well... emm Satoru is a bit busy at the moment, but..." his gaze focused on Katsumoto.
The young assistant gave a very subtle nod to his superior. His eyes reflected quite a bit of fear. The message he wanted to convey seemed to have been quite clear.
"He already knows everything" he cried, his expression one of total anguish.
Ijichi understood immediately.
He addressed both guests "I understand, if it is for this case that he assigned you... then we should let him know you are here"
Yuta nodded, "Yes, please. And tell him it's urgent what I want to talk to him about" he replied quickly.
Ijichi turned his face to the servant who was accompanying him and nodded to him, "Please give notice that Okkotsu is here.
"Yes, sr"
So, quickly that servant entered the residence. He would run to tell his leader that he had a guest.
The three men waited for about seven minutes in that lobby, which, for both Ijichi and Katsumoto, felt like an eternity.
Both assistants exchanged some gestures and signs they had between them to send messages without the students or sorcerers knowing their meanings.
That exchange of uncomfortable glances and silence was interrupted by the sound of the sliding door opening once again.
The same servant had returned and bowed again.
"Leader Satoru asks you to enter. He is currently waiting for you at the Dojo" he said solemnly.
Ijichi let the air out in a small smile to hide the nervousness he still had, "Well, you'd better come in so you can talk to him directly" he answered very kindly, "I'll take you there" he let them in, "Come on"
"Thank you very much Ijichi san" commented Yuta with a smile, entering the residence walking behind the leader of the attendants, "Excuse me" he bowed to the servant.
"Go ahead, and make yourself at home, leader Okkotsu" commented that servant very politely.
That title left a strange feeling in Yuta. Such formality made him feel uncomfortable.
Katsumoto before entering and going after those two men, took a deep breath once again. He knew that his entire mission was over. And perhaps with it his life.
The three men entered the Gojo residence, which was still very quiet most of the day, as the servants only appeared when called or were mostly busy with their assigned activities.
But the few servants that were around, began to make a dignified bow as Yuta walked behind Ijichi.
Okkotsu felt too strange especially when some of them said to him;
"Welcome leader Okkotsu"
That title with which he began to be called as if he were already the leader of some clan, made him feel quite uncomfortable, at the same time that having all eyes focused on him, being the focus of attention of something he did not want, made him feel completely annoyed.
He felt that more and more, what Naobito and Naoya had told him about Satoru appointing him as the next leader of that clan, was coming true.
The three continued walking through those long and traditional corridors, where you could see large halls and rooms beautifully decorated with too many traditional things, just as the floor of these were lined with fine tatamis.
As well as on their way, they noticed that there were rooms in complete tranquility and without any furniture adorning those large and luxurious spaces.
That house, despite being imposing, always felt empty.
For a moment, the idea that all this could belong to him began to eat at Yuta's mind.
Would all that be his? Could he take Maki and his children to live there? Was he really cut out to be a leader? These questions raced through his mind.
The very idea that his children were running through those corridors, playing and laughing, and that they and Maki had a safe space in that residence was the only thing that calmed his heart at that moment, since he still felt his blood boiling as they approached the place where Satoru was waiting for him.
Yuta should also take the opportunity to clarify why Satoru had really called him back to Japan. Whether it was because of the sorcerer-killer issue or because it was time to name his next heir.
His hand again made a fist over the strap of his sword sheath at the level of his heart. He really wanted answers. Which it would not be long in coming.
The three men walked out into the beautiful central courtyard of that huge residence.
They had to cross that garden in order to reach the area where the dojo was located, which was used by the clan members for their training.
They walked through the beautiful garden, full of trees of various species, as well as admired the masterful kiosk that harmoniously adorned the site, which was located a few meters from a large pond, which was crossed by a traditional wooden bridge that led to a six-story pagoda, that ancient structure represented the clan.
Everything around them was completely quiet, as only the sound of insects could be heard.
They continued walking for several more minutes along that ancient stone path, until they reached the entrance of an old two-story building with an all-Japanese facade.
The three of them crossed the wooden gate, which welcomed them to the area. They continued walking along the white stone path until they reached the entrance of that imposing place.
"We are here"
Ijichi commented as they stopped outside a large, fine wooden door, which had the Gojo family crest finely carved on it.
That place gave off a rather heavy vibe, really Satoru's cursed energy was invading that place.
Ijichi took a breath before turning to the guests.
"Ideally, you should knock on the door before entering" he said, adjusting his glasses as beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
Not only was the humidity making him sweat in the summer sun, but also his nerves were beginning to betray him.
Yuta took a few steps toward the door, but before knocking, he turned to both attendants.
"I-It will be better if we wait for you at the residence" explained Ijichi, "We will prepare your room for you, as well as a place for you at lunch time, which will be served soon. Of course, if you would like to stay here this afternoon and tonight"
"Thank you very much Ijichi kun and to tell the truth, after this talk I would like to return to Kyoto, as I still have a lot of work to do there" commented Yuta with a slight smile.
"I understand" replied Ijichi, adjusting his glasses.
Okkotsu then turned to Katsumoto, who handed him the folder and bowed slightly.
"Thank you Katsumoto, you can take the rest of the afternoon" he replied, nodding to him.
"It's all right my lord and thank you" said his assistant with his nerves on edge.
The fact that Okkotsu would arrive at that place, only made the atmosphere feel heavier. It was like the clash between two galaxies, where those two titans were about to see who was the most imposing and capable of devouring the opponent.
Yuta took a breath, grabbed the knocker that had the shape of a dragon's mouth at its base, and knocked three times on the thin wooden door.
The three held their breath as silence filled the place for about a minute, which was interrupted when they finally got an answer coming from inside the dojo.
"Come in!" Satoru's voice was heard coming from the other side of the door. It was a piercing cry, but it did not sound threatening at all. On the contrary, it seemed from the melodious sound of the invitation, that the albino was quite cheerful.
Yuta took one last look at the two assistants before pulling the knocker and finally entering the place.
Once that door closed behind the sorcerer, both assistants walked at a fast pace until they left the area through the threshold through which they had entered.
They really didn't want to be a minute closer to that place, where the energy was so heavy that it was suffocating.
Once they had gone far enough away from the dojo through the traditional garden, Katsumoto could not stand it any longer and dropped to his knees and began to cry.
"I did everything you and Mr. Gojo asked me to do..." his voice broke "I tried to pretend as much as I could" he sobbed, that cry seemed to be one of total relief, while his tears were streaming down his cheeks- "I even used the information you gave me Ijichi san... but, even so" he sobbed again- "I am afraid... the guilt for having kept this information from Okkotsu for so long consumes me...- his voice was completely torn apart.
Ijichi let out a sigh of total understanding, the world of sorcererry was full of secrets and stories and they as assistant directors often had to carry the truth behind the backs of others, either by mandate, for convenience or because they simply cannot reveal the information.
The leader of the assistants carefully bent down and put his hand on Katsumoto's shoulder to pat him so that he would feel relief.
"You did a great job, without your help, Okkotsu would never have found the truth, one that the poor man needed to discover on his own"
"I'm still afraid" his voice broke into a piercing cry, "Do you really think this was a good idea, was it really necessary for me to lead Okkotsu to her, to Maki Zenin" he questioned as his hands covered his face.
"It is, those two were already unhappy for seven years, and now more than ever is when everyone deserves to find happiness. Even Satoru, who has now also regained his freedom, has the duty to tell Okkotsu the whole truth. He too has carried the secret and the guilt of having kept them apart for so long. And not only that, but he has also carried on his shoulders the burden of having to guide this world of sorcery, assuming the role of leader that everyone expected him to assume and now expects him to continue to be" Ijichi continued comforting him with his hand on his shoulder "So yes, your help has been fundamental to lighten the burden and facilitate this reunion"
Katsumoto just shook his head, his eyes squeezed tightly shut as tears continued to stream down his cheeks and he wiped his nose with the sleeve of his suit.
"Even so... this doesn't stop being exhausting for me... and more so now that the investigations in Kyoto continue since we must catch that guy who is killing sorcerers left and right... I'm afraid of being next on his list! I'm afraid I'll be next on his list! The scenes he leaves of his crimes are so terrifying" Katsumoto replied, feeling his chest being crushed with anguish.
"I know and we have no choice but to solve this case" sighed Ijichi lowering his shoulders, "So Okkotsu will still need you more than ever. Only you two can solve this"
"But I'm tired of pretending in front of Okkotsu about how I really found out all that information about Maki Zenin and his children" Katsumoto sobbed.
"Maybe after this you won't have to pretend anymore" he helped him stand up, "Even so, please don't tell anyone at sede about Okkotsu coming to talk to Satoru and much less, reveal anything about Maki Zenin or the Fushiguro children, only a few of us know all this and it's better to keep it a secret...Understood?"
Katsumoto nodded his head yes as Ijichi helped him up.
"Come, let's go to Ieiri san to get a painkiller..." sigh"we'll all need it after this"
Katsumoto stood up, shook the dirt off his knees and just prayed to heaven that Okkotsu would come out of that place alive and sane.
Both assistants began to move farther and farther away from the dojo, which they knew would become a battlefield between two titans.
Katsumoto wiped his tears once again with the sleeves of his suit "By the way Ijichi san..." He began to ask once they entered again to that part of the residence where the corridors met the entrance to the garden "Was there anyone else next to the leader Satoru inside that Dojo" he paused for a moment "It is that I perceived the presence of someone else in there..."
Quickly Ijichi's face tightened. His hand went to his forehead, it seemed he had remembered that someone else was supposed to be with Satoru that day.
He turned quickly to the young assistant, "I just hope that someone got out of there in time..." commented Ijichi, tensing his shoulders.
There was no time to find out, the conversation of those two had already begun.
Yuta walked steadily into the building he knew was used exclusively for training.
He remembered it perfectly because he got to train with Satoru on a couple of occasions at that place when he had just entered the academy.
He also remembered how painful his teacher's blows could be, especially if he used blue to draw him against his fist infused with his cursed energy.
Okkotsu took a few more steps until he finally managed to see and spot Satoru.
This one was in the center of the Dojo, wearing sports clothes that resembled a martial arts master, dressed in a black T-shirt and white pants. He was wearing a black T-shirt and white pants, as well as black sneakers that were used for training.
Satoru was completely sweaty, with his breathing somewhat agitated as if he had just worked out or as if he had just trained with someone.
Yuta looked around, not detecting anything out of the ordinary.
The only thing that caught his attention was that there were two bottles of water on the floor and near where the wooden sticks and swords were hung, there were two white towels.
Okkotsu at that moment overlooked those details, since what caught his attention was the atmosphere of that place. He felt a trace of cursed energy in the air but he could not identify it completely because it was strongly combined with that of Gojo.
Someone else had definitely been in there with Satoru.
"Okkotsu did not expect your visit. Well, what brought you here so suddenly?" the leader of that clan welcomed him with a big smile, while he did some arm stretches.
The black-haired sorcerer took a deep breath before answering, "I've come to bring you an update on the sorcerer-killer case you assigned me" he replied coolly, as he pulled out a few sheets of paper from the plastic envelope-shaped folder.
Satoru shook his shoulders with disinterest, "So you came all the way from Kyoto just to bring me the report? If you had sent it by mail or by LINE message it would have been enough" he stretched his arms raising them above his head "It doesn't matter, you will always be welcome in this residence, surprise visits are really needed from time to time" he let out a light chuckle "And tell me, how has Kyoto been treating you?" he said approaching his guest.
"He has treated me well, I would say that Kyoto treated me better than I thought, he has even given me unexpected surprises…" said Yuta remembering his children a little. Actually the memory of them calmed him down a little and even more now that he had in front of him the culprit of not having seen them born or grow up.
"I see, well let's see what you have here" Satoru took the papers with a big smile, it was unusual for him to want to review paperwork, but at that moment he was more than interested.
Sweat was still trickling down his forehead as he gave the first few lines a quick read.
Gojo's blue pupils went from side to side and then he looked up at Okkotsu, "By the way, I heard that you killed a curse that was prowling around a shopping mall"
Yuta's eyebrows rose in surprise. He hadn't expected Satoru to be aware of that incident.
He took a breath, he wanted to get down to the important stuff but he knew he had to take it easy if he wanted to get the whole truth out of her. So he decided to play along.
"Yes, it was. It happened on my first day I arrived in that city"
"And..." Satoru paused, he seemed quite curious about that topic as he looked at his guest.
"I also heard that you saved two children that day, right?" he asked directly.
Yuta moistened his lips slightly before answering that "That's right!" sigh "If I hadn't arrived on time, today a mother would be crying for her children- he answered seriously"
He clenched his fist discreetly on the strap of his sword "If I had not arrived in time, not only a mother would be crying for her children, but also a father would never have met them..."he said to himself mentally.
Satoru burst out laughing "You're always being a kid magnet" he returned his gaze to the leaves "I guess those little ones turned out to be special, huh?"
Okkotsu did not answer that, he thought that maybe Satoru only said that because those children could see curses, and by the way, because he had to keep as much discretion as possible.
Satoru noticed that silence.
"Let's see what you have here" He took a few steps around Okkotsu, walking loosely around the dojo, as it seemed he couldn't stand still.
Yuta swallowed saliva as his right hand continued to grip the strap of his sword.
"You know it wasn't necessary for you to enter this place with your sword" Gojo pointed out, giving him a quick glance, noticing how that boy had his hand on the strap of that sheath.
"I'm sorry, being abroad I got too used to always carrying it..." he explained, "You never know when someone will attack you by surprise... be it an acquaintance... or an enemy" he said coldly.
"Hum" Gojo only let out that noise with disinterest while continuing to look at his guest, "Well, here you can be sure that you have more of an ally than an enemy" there was a serious exchange of glances, which did not last more than a few seconds.
"I'm sure it is... thank you" Yuta replied, pretending to be polite.
Satoru returned his eyes to those sheets and kept a few minutes of silence while he read their contents.
On the other hand, Yuta did not take his eyes off him, as he kept silent and analyzed his host, trying to find the right moment to start questioning about the past.
"I see that you have made some progress in the case, although from the most recent reports, this killer is still killing left and right" again his gaze focused on his guest, "Do you have any suspects yet?" his hand went to his chin as he walked beside him.
Their energies clashed little by little, in a kind of tense tug-of-war.
The other special grade sorcerer let the air out in a sigh of utter frustration.
"I'm still looking for more clues that will lead me to the criminal. Although now that we have a classification of his victims as well as some patterns in his attacks, we understand his modus operandi a little better and we hope to find this guy soon"
The albino let out a small chuckle of satisfaction upon hearing that statement. He seemed quite animated.
"Not for nothing did I know it was a good idea for you to return to Japan to solve this case" he looked down at the leaves again.
"And this is the only reason you brought me back to Japan?" he dared to ask, controlling his voice that wanted to come out with fury "Just to solve this case? he asked quickly, moving his hands from one side to the other"
"Initially yes, but once you finish this mission of catching this assassin, I will give you a much more important one, which I will explain to you later" answered Gojo passing the page and turning slightly to walk on the other side of Okkotsu. It seemed that the albino was analyzing him too.
Yuta tensed his jaw. Again his hand made a fist on the strap as he looked very seriously at Satoru. His brow was quite furrowed. His patience was wearing thin as he watched the man act very unselfishly.
The albino detected that change in his guest's mood, "Did something make you angry? Because your cursed energy feels irregular" he commented, taking his bottle of water from the floor while he continued reading those pages, "I have told you that you should work on that way of yours of wasting cursed energy, those sudden leaks are what make others detect your changes of state" he drank a little.
Okkotsu tried to relax, but he couldn't, he was facing the one who separated him from Maki. His breathing was heavy.
He crossed his arms over his chest "I'm sorry, it's just the stress of this case that has me so tense" he lied, while squeezing his right wrist with his left hand.
Satoru put that bottle on the floor once again and began to leaf through it in disarray. Now he seemed quite disinterested in that report- "Anyway, I know you will be excellent at solving this case" - he said, closing the folder where those pages were "Moving on to another topic..."
The albino continued talking, now he seemed very serious and that was reflected in his face and that caught Yuta's attention. "I also heard that that asshole Naoya sent for you, is that true?" his eyes focused again on his guest while he took a few steps to take his towel.
The sorcerer who came from abroad let the air out abruptly just remembering everything that happened on that occasion.
"Yes, he called me a few days ago at the Zenin residence"
"And what did that jerk tell you? Did they talk about something important?" he had a tinge of intrigue in his voice "Or did they talk about this case?" the questions escaped from Satoru's mouth in a very serious tone.
Okkotsu tried to control his heavy breathing.
"That's right" he sighed, "Mr. Naoya called me to give him an update on this case and more than that the vast majority of the victims have been from his clan" he lowered his shoulders and scratched the back of his neck, "Although I admit that being in that place was quite stressful, I really don't want to set foot in the Zenin residence again..."
Satoru let out a loud laugh at what the sorcerer said.
"I guess the fact that they are eliminating their clan is their punishment" he wiped the sweat from his face with the towel, "It's just something they deserved, even so, good job Okkotsu, keep it up!" he patted him on the shoulder, "If there is nothing more to discuss you can leave or unless you want to stay to eat and sleep tonight, you always have a room in this residence," he was ready to return the leaves. But his guest's behavior changed drastically.
"Thank you for the hospitality... but..."
"Huh? What's wrong?" Satoru raised an eyebrow at that word.
"Although my surprise visit is actually due to something else" Yuta answered with complete seriousness while his eyes were fixed on the folder still in his hands.
"Oh!" Satoru clicked his tongue, "So, what's the reason for your sudden visit, really? Weren't you coming to give me a preview of this case?"
"Coming to give you the advance was just a pretext for you to let me in" Yuta commented, clasping his hands over the plastic folder where he still kept a few more sheets of paper.
"So what was the main reason you came here? Okkotsu" Satoru became very serious when he noticed that the man was holding that folder tightly.
"I have actually come for answers that only you can give me, Satoru Gojo" his gaze lifted to his teacher.
"Explain yourself" Satoru folded his arms, "Besides, it's very unusual for you to call me by my full name" he pointed out.
Yuta took a breath "I happened to be in Kyoto"- He began to explain –"I have come across some very interesting clues that fit with certain past issues that have to do with me..." he said in a serious voice, while his gaze was focused on the blue gaze of his host "And with Maki…"
Satoru scratched his cheek. In his eyes shone a spark of pure curiosity.
"Past issues? Like what?" he smiled.
Yuta took a pose of total seriousness while he opened the folder.
"Well, being in Kyoto I came across this tomb" he said angrily as he quickly took out of the folder a sheet of paper with a photograph of the tombstone he went to visit.
Satoru kept his calm pose as he listened to what Okkotsu started to say. His guest was too upset and it showed in his pose and his words.
"Not only did Katsumoto help me find Maki's grave as well as her death certificate!" he pulled out the sheet the academy had on that incident, "but both Naobito-san and Naoya-san confirmed to me that Maki is dead!" he began to raise his voice, "Even Naoya-san told me that you knew all this! Satoru, is this true? You knew that Maki was dead?!"
The albino sighed while scratching his head.
"Well, it seems that you finally found her..." he let out a big sigh and then a big smile appeared on his lips, it seemed that he was waiting for that conversation "PERFECT!" he looked relieved- "yes well, that was something I really wanted you to find out. Although I guess now that you've found Maki, I don't have to worry anymore"
Yuta opened his eyes wide when he heard that.
"What do you mean I found out? What the hell are you trying to say?"
Satoru simply waved his hands "I'm simply saying that my plan worked" He snapped my fingers and then pointed both hands at his student " it took seven years but it worked!"
"WHICH PLAN?" Yuta raised his voice even higher.
The albino scratched the back of his neck and tried to explain it in the best way.
"Okkotsu, there are some things that are difficult to address right now and even more so now that you are furious. But I can only tell you that seven years ago, I was only securing your future. It is well said that the end justifies the means."
"AND THAT INCLUDED SEPARATING ME FROM MAKI?" Yuta shouted super annoyed, "YOUR PLAN WAS TO SEPARATE ME FROM HER?"
"Technically I didn't want to separate you!" he waved his hands, "Basically my plan at the time was for you two to leave the country" he let out the air in annoyance as he explained.
"Unfortunately, "the others"! he wiggled his fingers in quotation marks "Beat me to it and that's why I had to drag you out of Japan. In order to make sure that you didn't fall into their trap so that you could be stronger when the time was right" he moved his shoulders a little and raised his arms again. It looked like he was getting ready to train again.
"But too bad Maki didn't have the same luck" he put his hands on his hips, "I clearly remember that before getting on the train, I talked to her" he snorted and made a grimace that ended in a smile, "But that girl sure likes to do things her own way, haha, not for nothing was she my student and much less will she stop being a Zenin"
"IS IT TRUE WHAT MAKI SAN TOLD ME ABOUT YOU TALKING TO HER AT THAT TRAIN STATION SEVEN YEARS AGO? IS IT TRUE THAT YOU DOUBTED HER NOT TO GO WITH ME? YOU KNEW MAKI WAS HIDING SOMETHING IMPORTANT FROM ME?" Yuta shouted, waving his hands angrily.
Satoru raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I didn't say anything about her "hiding" something important from you, and much less did I say that she had doubts about going with you, besides.. dead people don't talk"… how is it that she told you something like that?" he commented curiously.
"Shit..." whispered Yuta, realizing that he was talking too much.
"She told you all that, didn't she? You already know her version of that day, don't you? Because if so, then that means you've already managed to find Maki and all your friends? Eh, Yuta?" Satoru had a big smile on his face.
Yuta had spoken too much due to his anger. At that moment he realized his mistake.
"ANSWER ME SATORU WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME GO GET HER? WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME GET OFF THE DAMN TRAIN SEVEN YEARS AGO?!"
Satoru sighed and made a slight grimace
"I already told you part of the reason why, aren't you paying attention to me?" he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"But above all, I didn't tell you at the time because you wouldn't understand Okkotsu" he looked at his student with seriousness – "Besides, all this about you leaving the country I did it for your sake and hers..." he commented without a hint of guilt "Just like I did it for the sake of your children..."
Yuta froze when he heard that last one.
"What did you say?"
Satoru got a big smile of happiness "I wonder which Maki you have actually met, if the one our records say she is dead and buried in that grave" He point to those pages "or "the one from the hospital, the one who gave birth to your children, which if I'm not mistaken you already met, right - I'm talking about your twins, a girl and a boy, aren't they? They are the same children that you saved that time in the mall" he looked at his guest with great joy "Am I wrong?"
Yuta was puzzled, "How the hell do you know all this?" he asked in confusion.
Satoru sighed again, "Okkotsu, Okkotsu, Okkotsu!" he repeated that last name three times with a mixture of disapproval and exasperation. He was amazed at his student's clumsiness in not grasping things the first time.
"Where do you think your assistant got all the information you asked him to find out about Maki?" he asked with a wry smile "or rather, who do you think he really got it from?"
Yuta remembered everything that Katsumoto told him he had investigated. From the surnames of his children, as well as that medical record of the "Maki of the hospital", even remembering how they had found that tomb and all the information he had given him.
"But! Katsumoto told me that he had broken the protocols and... had broken the protocols and..." he was interrupted.
"Let me explain all that to you!" He looked at his guest, "Although I confess that I was already aware that you sent Katsumoto to find out the whereabouts of your beloved Maki. So I knew it was only a matter of time before you found her. So I simply let your assistant search for the information in our database, while at the same time we were providing you with all the clues we wanted you to find" he explained – "Basically he did not break any protocol, on the contrary, we provided him with ALL the information you know today" he had a smile from ear to ear.
Yuta's eyes widened at such a confession.
Satoru raised his voice to bring Yuta out of his thoughts and then, he raised a finger as if he was giving a lectura.
"Now! Do you remember the mall case that you exactly solved 16 days ago, when you saved those kids and killed that curse?" he asked with a big smile. The excitement of explaining that could be heard in his animated tone of voice.
Okkotsu, on the other hand, was paralyzed as he listened to that explanation.
Satoru continued speaking, "It turns out that after the incident at the mall we confirmed the whole truth of seven years ago" he continued explaining without taking his eyes off his guest "And all thanks to Katsumoto who was investigating a little more about this case in order to give us an account of how this curse was born and why we had not been notified about it before" he took a few steps and began to walk around Okkotsu.
"But both your assistant and Ijichi were struck by those two children in particular that you saved. Especially Katsumoto found it quite frightening the fact that those two little ones looked quite similar to you and even more so when you were supposed to be "childless" and that's when those two started to look for their surnames, as well as started to investigate some clue about who their parents were, where and when they were born and all those things that assistant managers know how to do" he continued walking and explaining.
He clapped his hands, "And after a few days of investigating together, Eureka! That's where we found all the information that you now know because it coincided with the information that Ijichi managed to recover from what happened seven years ago!" he seemed very proud of what he was saying.
"So basically Ijichi was the one who provided Katsumoto with all this information, who in turn provided it to you!" he pointed to the sheets Yuta was carrying, "Isn't it amazing what those two can do together? Your assistant is really on Ijichi's level!"
The black-haired sorcerer was in shock at everything he had heard.
Satoru waved his hands from side to side "Although I admit I'm still surprised that it happened this way. Sometimes it seems that fate likes to play with you, but I must say that thanks to that incident at the mall, we were able to confirm our suspicions and you were able to meet your children. If I remember correctly, their names are Yurika and Yuudai Fushiguro, aren't they? Fate did prepare this surprise and this meeting for us in the least thought way" sigh.
Okkotsu was furious, his face was red "I told Katsumoto not to investigate anything about those children!"
"But if he hadn't, you would never have found your beloved Maki and your children, would you?" commented Satoru with a touch of irony.
Yuta pursed his lips at such an answer.
"So this whole thing of you finding out the truth happened because Katsumoto talked to Ijichi who, in turn, talked exclusively to me about this case. And that's where all the pieces for the three of us connected!" he clapped his hands again, "And after seven years, we confirmed our suspicions that Maki was not dead and that indeed those children were still alive, as well as all the others!" he waved his hands playfully.
Yuta was paralyzed with courage.
"And I guess from the look on your face, I can assume that you've already met and you spent time with her and your children, right?" asked Satoru with a big smile on his lips, "Your assistant did a great job guiding you to them. Which was at my request"
"THEN YOU ALWAYS KNEW MAKI WAS STILL ALIVE?! YOU KNEW ABOUT MY CHILDREN?!" Okkotsu shouted with fury consuming his being.
"I always suspected that she never died, and we just lost track of her seven years ago, just like everyone else!" he shrugged, "We just let them have their lives in peace!" commented Satoru with a smile, "And yes, I already knew she was pregnant since that time I saw them seven years ago when I ran into them in the geisha alley" he chuckled."Seriously Okkotsu, you took too long to realize what was going on" he pointed his index finger at himself, "Still I give me some credit for all this you've discovered, because as I said everything has a reason why I did it this way"
That was the last straw for Yuta.
The next thing happened so fast that the clash of those two shook the whole place, making the wood of the dojo creak. The first blow had come from Okkotsu, who had his sword against Satoru's infinity. While Rika was trying to penetrate that barrier from the opposite side.
Yuta had quickly unsheathed his sword and summoned Rika. Who, sensing all of Okkotsu's anger, knew that the one in front of her was the enemy at that instant.
"But what a predictable attack. Didn't you learn anything abroad?" Satoru scoffed, his hand raised.
"WHY DID YOU HIDE ALL THIS FROM ME? I'VE MISSED ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OF MY CHILDREN'S LIVES!" Okkotsu shouted.
"I told you I did it to protect you and everyone else! But above all I had to secure your future as my successor!"
"This society is really rotten!" Yuta replied, remembering Yuki's words, "and even more so if you're ruling it from the top!"
Okkotsu was quickly thrown to the ground by Satoru, and when he was about to start counterattacking with a punch in the face, Yuta managed to move with the help of Rika, who managed to throw Satoru.
Rika pulled Yuta, and again, they both threw themselves against Satoru, who had not received a scratch.
"That's the best you've got?!" shouted the albino, who saw how his former student was close to him. Just as he saw Rika growling.
"WHY DID YOU DO IT?" shouted Yuta, "WHY DID YOU ABANDON ALL MY FRIENDS?! BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY DID YOU SEPARATE ME FROM MAKI?" he demanded the truth.
"I DIDN'T SEPARATE THEM!" - Satoru used the strength of his barrier to push him away. Sending him flying towards one of the pillars of the dojo, shaking the whole place with his energy –"ON THE CONTRARY! I DID ALL THIS TO PROTECT YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE!" he shouted "WE ALL HAVE SOMEBODY TO PROTECT! OKKOTSU!"
The sword was embedded in the wooden floor.
Yuta luckily did not hit that pillar, as even his agility in the air was much better than before.
He was now more experienced and was twice as coordinated with Rika, who managed to catch him.
"Damn you!" growled the curse, who launched itself again against Satoru to serve as a distraction, while its claws tried to penetrate the invisible field that stopped it.
"It seems the queen is just as stubborn as her master!" sneered Satoru as he watched Rika growl at him from close range. Showing her sharp teeth and claws.
Instead, the black-haired sorcerer again picked up the sword and ran to where his master was.
Both again attacked Satoru in a combined attack, where the exchange of blows was intense.
"This weak attack again?" the albino asked haughtily. As he once again applied his infinity and prepared to launch a blue one.
"I have something that will surprise you!" commented Yuta while in one swift movement, he released his sword and unraveled from his right wrist, what appeared to be a cursed tool, which was most similar to a string with emerald beads at the beginning, middle and end of it.
That object seemed to grow longer as it was impregnated with the user's cursed energy.
Quickly Yuta jumped up and in one movement, he managed to put that rope over his master's invisible field, which he managed to disturb a little.
Satoru looked at that attack, which seemed quite familiar. And even more so when his infinity began to evaporate at the touch of that string.
That was the ideal moment, Yuta managed to go through the infinity, which was simply turned off by Satoru, managing to hit his master twice, but the albino quickly defended himself by trying to hit Okkotsu, who was moving at the same level and speed as him, with his bare fist. Even so, Yuta was not spared a punch in the face. But he managed to dodge all the others, leaving Satoru surprised.
"Not bad" the albino mocked, "This way of fighting is quite similar to Miguel's. He taught you this, didn't he?"
"Yes, and I can even confirm that Miguel is a good teacher, not like you!" he spat angrily.
"Ouch!" Satoru let out that noise in mockery.
The blows with his fists continued, now Yuta was really keeping up with him and that stressed Satoru, who kicked his student sending him flying several meters.
But Yuta did not give up. Again he approached to try to hit Satoru, taking advantage of the fact that the rope, every time it crossed the infinite, disturbed him.
Every time that rope touched Gojo's hands while he was dodging the whips, he felt a strange electric current, followed by a steam, a sign that his infinity was evaporating and that stressed him too much.
"What the fuck was that?" asked Satoru rather annoyed, finally getting close to kick Yuta directly in the stomach to send him flying again.
Yuta was caught by Rika, causing him to quickly rejoin the fight, as he tried to approach using the rope, which Satoru dodged, but now made him feel a strange tingling sensation all over his body.
That cursed object was of the same material that Michael once used against him in their fight long ago, in the night parade of the hundred demons.
"No wonder I felt that stupid rope so familiar" said Satoru as he threw some direct punches, which Yuta dodged, "I thought I had completely eliminated it almost ten years ago" he tried to push Okkotsu away again.
But he managed to catch Satoru's hands and quickly used the cursed speech.
"Don't move!" he shouted, making Satoru stunned for only a few seconds while Rika held him in her claws.
"Surprised You?" Yuta tensed the rope to prevent Satoru from using his hands and activate the infinite or his domain, "Well, indeed in Africa this material had been exhausted, but it was a pleasant surprise to see that in Latin America, they have the same material. In fact, all of Latin America has many interesting tools and I found it in the south of Mexico, more specifically in Yucatan" he explained with a big smile when he saw his master trapped.
Satoru grunted a little.
"You should thank me that you traveled the world for me!" he used his feet to hit Rika hard and in passing, he made a quick movement pulling that rope to bring Okkotsu closer to him and hit him with his head- "And that thanks to me, you finally found your beloved Maki" he shouted.
With that quick movement, Satoru managed to pull the rope out of his hands to then grab it with one hand and imbue it with his overwhelming cursed energy to make it disappear, applying the principle that if an object was imbued with cursed energy all at once, it could break or become useless, so that rope began to burn in his hand.
Yuta fell to the ground against his back, but quickly got to his feet by propelling himself with his hands"YOU REALLY ONLY SEPARATED ME FROM THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!" again he ran against his sensei.
"I told you I did it for the good of both of you!" Satoru shouted, hitting him full in the face, throwing him against the wall.
Then he managed to hit Rika, who was also trying to catch him –"IF IT WASN'T FOR ME, YOUR CHILDREN AND MAKI WOULD BE DEAD! YOUR FRIENDS EQUALLY!" he approached with a heavy step against Okkotsu to try to kick him, but Yuta stood up quickly.
"IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR YOU, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN MY CHILDREN'S LIVES AND TAKEN CARE OF MY FRIENDS WHILE I WAS AT IT!"
"I FREED YOUR FRIENDS! I FREED THEM FROM THIS FUCKING WORLD OF WITCHCRAFT!" he again threw several punches, which Okkotsu managed to stop with his hands. Still, the poor guy was already hurt.
"YOU LIE!" Yuta managed to hit Satoru once in the face, who didn't stay still, he moved with great agility.
"YOU'RE SO STUBBORN OKKOTSU! YOU'RE NOT SEEING IT CORRECTLY, I DID IT TO PROTECT ALL OF YOU AND BY THE WAY, TO PROTECT ONE MORE PERSON!" He sent Okkotsu once again to the ground, but Okkotsu quickly got up.
Yuta managed to grab his sword, he got into attack position.
"But that didn't give you the right to separate me from Maki, now I understand why you didn't let me off the train, you just wanted to take me away from her!"
Satoru put his hands on his hips.
"I guess she already told you her whole story about that day, right?" he sighed, wiping away his sweat.
"Maki told me that you talked to her at that train station seven years ago!" he held the handle of his sword tightly.
"I admit I talked to her, but my goal was to put you two to the test, I thought your love could do it all!" he took a few steps, "but the others were faster than me"
"And you couldn't tell me anything?!" Yuta commented, still firm.
"I couldn't tell you directly since I couldn't break my vows, you of all people know why they can't be broken. Or didn't I teach you theory?"
"First of all, you were never a good teacher! And secondly, you screwed up my happiness with Maki and my children!" Yuta was still in a position to attack again at any moment.
Satoru lowered his shoulders and twisted his mouth, "Like I said, I did it to protect all of you! Aren't you paying attention to me" he growled.
"I don't believe you!" Yuta shouted furiously.
"Okay, don't believe me, but that's the truth!" the albino shrugged, looking fed up with it all.
"Lies!"
"Okkotsu, I had something at stake too!" He raised both hands, "So try stabbing me if you really won't listen to my side of the story"
Yuta gripped his sword tighter. It seemed that for real, Satoru had deactivated his infinite, this was his chance.
"KILL ME IF YOU CAN! THERE'S REALLY MORE BEHIND THIS! I ALSO HAVE SOMEONE TO PROTECT NOW, THAT'S WHY I HAVE HAD TO LIE AND HIDE A LOT OF THINGS!" shouted Gojo very angrily.
At that moment, when Okkotsu was about to approach Satoru, something caught his attention. And that was that he felt a gaze fixed on him.
Yuta's gaze was fixed on one of the pillars. A fleeting movement in the shadows made him squint, convinced that he had seen a figure peeking through the pillar closest to the entrance, which was ajar. Yuta remembered that this door had been closed once he had entered the dojo.
Had it been just his imagination?
It seemed not, as "that someone" peeked out again and quickly hid behind the pillar.
"WHO IS THERE?" Okkotsu shouted seriously, "SHOW YOURSELF!" he pointed his sword.
Again, that being peeked out slightly, revealing two beautiful blue eyes, which sparkled like diamonds.
Satoru sighed and lowered his hands. "Come on, get out of there, we've already noticed you're spying on us!" he commented, putting his hands on his hips with a slight smile on his lips.
Okkotsu's eyebrows rose as his shoulders and hands lowered as he saw from that pillar, looming almost completely out of that pillar was a boy, who was startled to see him with that sword in hand.
The boy half hid again behind that pillar. Dad…" he said in a trembling
voice, "Who is he?"
"Don't be afraid, he won't hurt you, I promise" Satoru looked at the little boy, "we're just talking" he said in a calm voice, "Come on, get out of there"
That little guy took a step to the side to show himself completely.
That boy was about six years old, his hair was as black as coal. His skin was very white and his face was quite similar to Satoru's. He wore a gray hakama and traditionally black and white T-shirts. He wore a gray hakama and traditionally black and white T-shirts. But what was most striking about the boy were his beautiful blue eyes.
"A child?" said Yuta in confusion without letting go of the sword. He even blinked several times.
"Dad, is everything all right?" asked the boy with fear when he saw Yuta with some blood on his face.
"He is, now come I want to introduce you to someone" ordered Satoru, putting one of his knees on the floor.
Yuta quickly lowered his sword, he was quite confused.
That look reminded him of the time he met his children in the alley. He thought of the fear his children would have of him if they saw him in a similar situation.
Once the boy saw the other adult under that gun and Rika fading away very quickly, he ran into Satoru's arms.
"Dad, who is he? Is he a bounty hunter? Is that why they were fighting?" the boy asked with a frown, as Satoru lifted him up in his arms.
"I'm glad you asked son, he is someone important I want you to meet!" Satoru said, turning to his guest, "Yuta, I want you to meet my son, Yoshio Iori"
"Son? Iori?" Yuta gasped when he heard the boy's surname, "So he's Utahime sensei's son?"
"Yup!, his mother is Utahime" he looked at his son, whom he was still holding in his arms, "Say hello Yoshi, say hello to your uncle Yuta"
"Hello, man who wants to kill my father" commented the boy, sticking his tongue out at him and then laughing out loud, he no longer seemed to be afraid of him, "I must say that they were giving each other a good beating!" he hit his right hand with his opposite fist, "although it seemed that Dad had you on the ropes. He's the strongest sorcerer for a reason!"
"Isn't he a sweet boy?" Gojo replied proudly as he heard his son say that.
"I thought you couldn't have children..." commented Yuta blinking several times.
That caught Satoru's attention. "Who told you that?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Well…" Yuta let out a long sigh, "When I went to the Zenin residence, Mr. Naobito told me that there was a rumor that you had declared yourself incapable of having children…" he pointed to Satoru and the child in his arms.
The albino laughed at that.
"As you can see, it's just a rumor that I didn't want to clear up for the sake of my own. Although I suspect that old drunkard knows more than we imagine"
"Even so, Dad didn't want to give me a little brother!" Yoshio commented with a grimace, jumping into the conversation.
"I told you to stay out of adult talk!" Satoru called his attention, "Maybe someday I'll give you one or even two siblings" he smiled too much as he looked at Okkotsu. He seemed to have a plan in mind.
"You never say that to me, it's Mom or Grandma Umeko who says it!" Yoshio pouted at that call for attention.
Yuta was quite confused, he could not believe his eyes.
"So all this time you were hiding your son, just like my sons have been hiding?" he asked astonished.
"Okkotsu, you are not the only one who had and still has to lie to protect what he loves most in this life... especially in this new era of sorcery" Gojo answered with his eyes fixed on Yuta, who was surprised by what he had heard and seen at that moment.
"I don't know what to say? This isn't a dream, is it?" said Yuta with total confusion.
"It is not a dream. I really am a father!" Satoru replied with a big smile.
"I call him daddy Giraffe because of how tall he is or I also call him old man because of the color of his hair!" replied the boy in a mocking tone.
"Hey, more respect, sir!" Satoru scolded.
Yoshio just stuck his tongue out at his father and then burst into laughter.
Truly, Yuta was in shock.
Satoru sighed as he returned his son to the ground.
"My back!, it's been years since I've had a fight like this"
The boy laughed at that comment.
"That's because you are already old. That's why your bones hurt"
"Of course I'm not, I just have white hair!"
"Even so, it makes you look like one!" said that laughing boy, "Besides, Aunt Shoko always says so!"
Yuta just stared in awe at that father and son scene, really the energy that little boy gave off felt like Satoru's.
"Now I understand why there were two bottles of water... and why another presence was felt" He whisper.
"By the way, Yoshio, I told you to go to your mother while I was talking to the guest why did you come back? I told you that our training to teach you the petal thrill would be done later" Satoru put his hands on his hips.
The boy made a big pout.
"Mom is having her headaches again and I really wanted to keep training with you. So that's why I came back" he explained.
Satoru sighed.
"Those headaches worry me... And in that case, why didn't you go bother your aunt Shoko? By the way, where's your grandmother?" he asked holding a hand to his head.
Yoshio wiggled playfully.
"Aunt Shoko was busy attending to a man in a suit that four eyes brought to the nursing, the poor devil was crying too much so that's why I came back here, I don't like to listen to weak people cry and grandma Umeko" He brought his hands behind his back and moved slightly back and forth "She's in the kitchen, and since I don't want to get into helping her, I'd better stay here"
"You are a spoiled child, that's why you do whatever you want" Satoru sighed.
"Well, for now we should invite your uncle Yuta to lunch since I have to talk to him about some important matters" he looked at his guest, "Confused, right?
The black-haired sorcerer nodded his head yes.
"As I said, I also have someone very important to protect... and that someone is this child as well as I have to protect Utahime since they are both my family" commented Satoru tousling his son's hair, while he held on to his leg as he looked at the guest.
The little blue eyes of that child, quite caught Okkotsu's attention. Actually that child reminded them of their children.
What would they think if they saw him fight like that? Was it really a good idea for him to meet their children? Several more questions began to invade Okkotsu's head until Yoshio's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Uncle Yuta!" that boy seemed to have already taken him into his confidence, "You're bleeding, you should go see Aunt Shoko" he said in a pout.
Yuta wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
"Thank you... I think it would be a good idea to go see her"
"Come Okkotsu, we will explain everything point by point, but for the moment, let's go eat" said Satoru with a smile while stroking once again his son's hair- "After the meal we will eat a delicious dessert!"
"I want ice cream. Dad, I want ice cream for dessert!" Yoshio pouted.
Satoru sighed at such a demand "Seriously, you are a very spoiled child" he smiled because it reminded him a lot of him "Then ice cream it is!"
"Yupi!" Yoshio shouted excitedly.
"Go Yoshi, go tell your grandmother and the servants to put one more plate on the table, and that this time we will eat at the kiosk in the garden" ordered Satoru, patting his son on the back.
"OK!" said the boy cheerfully as he walked out of the dojo.
"Come on Yuta…"Satoru also patted him on the shoulder "Let's eat and after the meal I'll tell you the whole truth"
Okkotsu was really confused, but it was time to hear his sensei's side of the story.
Notes:
Chan! Chan! Chan!
What did you guys think of this chapter? 👀
How are they finding this story?
I hope you understood what Gojo meant by his explanation that he and Ijichi were the ones who gave the information to Katsumoto about Maki Zenin's case as well as her children, if not, I will explain it better in the next chapter 🙇 ️ because yes, they both suspected the whole truth.
I know you may have many questions, but I will answer in the next chapter ️
Don't worry, also in the next chapter you will find out more about Gojo's past and also what happened with Utahime before we turn all the attention back to Kyoto to focus on how Yuta will try to win Maki's heart, as well as we will see more of his coexistence with his children and at the same time, the focus on catching the "killer" Which will start to move its pieces again.
So the tension and desire between Maki and Yuta is going to increase ❤️ 🔥 as well as we will have tender moments between father and sons.
Also, I have already decided the cursed techniques of Yuudai and Yurika, very soon you will discover them, so place your bets ️ Which technique did each child inherit? Although out there, there have been some very, very interesting proposals ✨️
And as you could read, here I decided to bring Yoshio Iori ️
I know that in the fic of "Utahime sensei's baby" and in the fic of "Four seasons", I have added to their plots the other son that I have invented between Utahime and Gojo named Takeru, but here I have decided to bring Yoshio from "The boy with blue eyes" (if someday I will update that fic again, give me a chance) ️ since I feel that in this story it looks better with this extroverted boy for this plot.
Now tell me
do you guys think Yoshio will meet Yuudai and Yurika soon? How do you think those three will get along? 👀
Because I have plans for Yoshio to meet especially one of the twins 👀.
Also what do you guys think about what Katsumoto did of hiding about how he really got that information from Okkotsu? Are you guys still suspicious of him or do you think he's good? I'll be reading them 👀
Same goes for Satoru, do you really think he is the bad guy in this story or just another victim of circumstance? 👀
Anyway, I also want to thank you for the support that this story continues to have ️ seriously, thank you very much for your comments, votes and even recommendations 🙇 ️ that becomes fuel to keep bringing more of this fic.
We'll keep reading ️