Chapter 23
Mid-August 2018
Much like when Kagome first came to the shrine, she had to make the long hike back to the desolate country road, where a car was waiting for her. With things as they were between the two supernatural organizations, the shrine's location was to be kept a secret, which explained the long travel time.
After the long car ride, Kagome was left at the train station with her duffle bag over one shoulder and her quiver over the other. She was just standing there, waiting for this train and the hours-long ride that awaited her, when she felt a blip of juryoku brush against her aura.
"Ka-go-me!~" He sang her name, elongating each syllable like a song. She perked up instantly, turning around to greet her teacher with the same fondness.
"Go-jo!~"
"Oh, I missed you, kid!" Gojo sobbed, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and leaning to rub his cheek against her head. "Megumi is so mean to me without you around!"
Kagome giggled softly, her chest warming and shoulders sagging. She hadn't realized how much she missed him, his weirdness, and the banter that filled the lulls between missions. "I see nothing's changed." She hummed.
He straightened. "Hope your things are packed; we have somewhere to be."
Kagome nodded. "Ready!"
"Good." His hand fell upon her head, and suddenly, Kagome felt weightless, followed by the force of the wind. There were flashes of light and color and the mixing of sounds whipping against her eardrums. It ended as quickly as it had started, and they were standing on a rooftop shadowed by other surrounding buildings.
Kagome blinked several times, rubbing her eyes to clear the remnants of light from her vision. "A little warning next time, please," she groaned. She'd once asked how he could teleport, and all she got was a "because I'm Gojo." "Where are we?"
"Akasaka."
Tokyo was massive, with countless wards and cities within its borders. Her family's shrine was located between two wards, but neither was as extravagant as Minato's ward. Akasaka was renowned for its expensive restaurants and stores, making it a hot spot for politicians and businesspeople alike.
Kagome straightened her skirt and smoothed out her hair. Gojo's decision to bring her to Akasaka instead of the school was a clear indication that he was up to something. Although he was 12 years her senior, Saturo Gojo was a simple man. He may be equally tactical and childish, but everything he did was to protect those under his care. He was a man on a mission, determined to safeguard budding Jujutsu Sorcerers from something more terrifying than cursed spirits: other Jujutsu Sorcerers. And maybe it was to shelter them from the darkness where their world overlapped with the normal non-sorcerer world.
"I'm being sent away on assignment, and I want you to work with Yuji until the sister school event," he explained.
Kagome nodded, mentally preparing herself for having to be around Sukuna again.
"There are contingencies in place in case Sukuna takes over while you two are being overseen. You're still students, after all."
Kagome flinched, a shiver running down her spine. "Am I one of them?'
He looked at her from above his dark sunglasses, the striking blue of his eyes reminiscent of a glacier with its depth and intense sparkle. "Sukuna likes you," he said matter-of-factly before descending the stairs.
Kagome shivered, a mix of shame, embarrassment, and rage stirring in her gut. She knew she couldn't kill Sukuna, and she doubted any sorcerer could. But she could distract him, possibly even bind him. Sukuna had already proven that he was willing to test the limits of their agreement.
"So who's my new teacher?" Kagome asked, wanting to shift the focus of the conversation. Besides, this person was someone Gojo trusted enough to entrust Yuji to.
"An underclassman of mine from when I was a student," Gojo replied with a grin.
Kagome gave him a pointed look. "So, a colleague."
He laughed, and Kagome understood why so many other sorcerers admired and envied him as much as they hated him. He was full of himself, but there was something endearing about his confidence.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a deep and emotionless voice that boomed, "You're late." The man who spoke was nearly as tall as Gojo but possessed more muscular features. His pale skin was accompanied by neatly styled blonde hair and goggle-like glasses that obscured his eyes. The man was dressed in a tan business suit perfectly suited for an office environment. The ensemble consisted of a blue dress shirt, a tan blazer, matching slacks, and light shoes. Completing the look was a necktie with a dotted pattern in yellow and black.
"Nanami!" Gojo cheered. "This is Kagome! Kagome, Nanami! Now wait here while I get Yuji, 'kay?" And with that, he was gone.
Kagome sighed, feeling a sense of frustration bubble up inside her. Turning to Nanami, she offered a bow. "Hello, I'm Kagome Higurashi. I'll be in your care."
"Nanami Kento," he replied in his usual flat tone. "Gojo says Sukuna will be more likely to behave if you're around."
Kagome flinched at the mention of Sukuna. "I wouldn't put it like that," she said, her tone taking on the disgust she felt towards the cursed spirit. "I interest him."
Nanami nodded, nose wrinkling. "So a decoy," he shook his head. Well, while you're in my care, I hope to avoid putting that responsibility on you. As you're still a kid, it is my job to put your safety before my own," he stressed.
Kagome blinked, her chest warming. As unnecessary as his little speech was, she instantly felt safer in this man's presence and instinctively knew he truly meant to protect her, even at the risk of his own safety. A part of her having needed to hear those words.
"I'm back~!" Gojo sang, opening the door with a flourish and taking a big step to dramatically gesture to Yuji as he walked in. "Look who I brought!"
Whether he was referring to Kagome or Yuji, the two froze as they looked at one another.
Kagome's breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked onto Yuji's.
Yuji stood in the doorway, his eyes wide and filled with a mixture of emotions as they locked onto Kagome's.
The last time they'd seen each other, Kagome had been crying into his chest on that cold morgue examination table, that memory forever seared into his mind. Dying wasn't all that memorable, but she had been like a beacon within the darkness with a warmth that anchored him in reality.
For a second, everything else faded into the background, leaving only the two of them.
"Kagome," Yuji whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Without a second thought, he rushed forward, closing the distance between them, wrapping her in a tight hug, his nose and hand in her hair. An ache he hadn't realized existed slowly fading.
"Hi, Yuji," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she weakly returned the hug.
Yuji jumped back, his face flushing a deep red. "Sorry," he mumbled, looking away awkwardly. "I just…"
Kagome blushed as well, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's okay, Yuji. I missed you too." They stood there for a moment, both of them a little embarrassed but unwilling to let go completely.
Gojo and Nanami exchanged glances before Gojo clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. "Alright, lovebirds, time to get down to business." He gave them a knowing grin, clearly enjoying their discomfort. Kagome and Yuji quickly stepped back from each other, both of them blushing furiously. "Yuji, Kagome will be working with you while I'm on assignment. And Nanami will be supervising you both."
Nanami stood silently, observing the exchange with a calm expression.
Yuji nodded, his gaze shifting to Nanami, bowing respectfully. "It's nice to meet you, Nanami-san."
Nanami offered a curt nod. "Itadori. Let's ensure this collaboration is productive and safe."
Gojo's grin widened. "Perfect! Now that the introductions are out of the way, I've got to get going. Play nice, everyone!" With a final wave, he disappeared, leaving the three of them standing in the apartment.
"Now that he's gone, it's time we get started!" Nanami stared the two of them down with a narrow gaze. "As I'm sure that idiot explained, I was once a student at Jujutsu High School but left because all Jujutsu sorcerers are idiots. And even after getting a well-paying job with a promising career, I realized that working sucked! So I took the lesser of two evils."
Kagome nodded. Though Gojo hadn't filled her in on his background, it didn't really matter, as there were sorcerers of varying origins with their own reasons for being Jujutsu Sorcerers. All that mattered was that they fought to exorcize curses and not people—her eyes briefly slid to Yuji—as long as they didn't want to kill him.
"Though Gojo and I think differently, I trust and have faith in him, which is why I agreed to help you," Nanami explained. "I'm not a fan of how the higher-ups run things, but I still follow the rules." Kagome clenched her hands. "Therefore, I don't acknowledge you as a Jujutsu Sorcerer." Nanami continued pointing at Yuji. "So prove to me, Yuji Itadori, that you can be useful in spite of that demon inside you."
Kagome looked over to Yuji, his eyes narrowed before a carefree smile pulled on his lips. "I'll be sure to prove myself."
Nanami gave a soft hum of acknowledgment before turning to the door.
"Follow me, we have a mission."
As they made their way down the stairs, Kagome found herself walking beside Yuji. She could feel the warmth of his presence and the steady rhythm of his footsteps next to hers. It was comforting, yet it made her painfully aware of the gap that had grown between them.
"Kagome," Yuji started, his voice hesitant. "I... I'm glad you're here."
She glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "Me too, Yuji. It's good to see you."
They walked silently for a few moments, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Kagome wanted to ask him so many things—about his experience with Sukuna, how he was coping, what had changed—but the words wouldn't come.
As their hands brushed, the hue of red that had bloomed across her cheeks suddenly drained, leaving her almost deathly pale.
Nanami paused mid-step, body tensing as he turned towards them.
"Miko." His voice was a rumble, sending a chill down her spine.
"Sukuna," she spat his name like it was laced with poison, her eyes murderous as they found the gleaming red irises staring back at her from Yuji's neck.
"Is that any way to greet me after all these weeks apart?" His words dripped with mock hurt, but they only fuelled the rage that fanned within her.
Kagome was not a hateful person; she had never even harbored this kind of volatile rage when facing Naraku. "The next finger we find, I'm purifying."
Sukuna laughed, the sound instigating only more of her anger. "Impossible, but I'd love to see you try."
Kagome flashed a smile just as insane as the one he gave her, her eyes ringed by a halo of glowing reiryoku. "Then I look forward to proving you wrong," she said. Since he appeared, Kagome decided to test whether their pact was still intact. She picked her wording carefully, making sure that he couldn't avoid answering. "Why'd you, monetarily, kill Yuji?"
The red irises narrowed, and his grin turned into a sneer.
Yuji looked at Kagome. "Just ignore him, Ka-" He couldn't finish his sentence before Sukuna spoke.
His answer was strained, a strangled voice, unlike his usual self. "To force the brat into a Binding Vow."
Kagome smiled despite the shock coming from Yuji.
"Choose your next sentence wisely, miko." Sukuna spat, just as she had the ability to force the truth out of the spirit; he held that same ability.
"Kagome," Yuji grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him and not Sukuna's face upon his neck. "Whatever you're doing, you need to stop," he grimaced.
"Higurashi, what did you do?" Nanami demanded.
Kagome sighed, willing the angry haze to a simmer. "Antagonize Sukuna."
The face he made made it clear he wasn't buying her lie, but he had, most likely, gleaned a fraction of the truth if he was as smart as she thought. Kagome and Sukuna had a binding vow, but what Kagome had forced from Sukuna was more important: Sukuna forced a binding vow on Yuji.
"Itadori," Nanami's voice pulled Yuji's attention to their temporary teacher, "can you confirm what Sukuna just said?"
Yuji opened his mouth only to close it again, wilting under Nanami's stare. "I don't remember anything."
Before anyone could stop her, Kagome caught Sukuna's gaze, giving him a soft, pretty smile, making sure to bat her eyes innocently. "Sukuna, what are the terms of the vow you forced upon Yuji?"
"Partly that Yuji would forget about the vow," Sukuna grinned back, able to tell a half-truth. "But you needn't worry, Miko. I promised not to kill anyone during the time the vow was active."
"I assume Yuji wasn't included in that." Kagome sneered.
"This is why I like you, my miko. You catch on fast; too bad you hadn't realized the same when making our deal." He chuckled before his tone became more pointed, almost angry. "Though I have to say, I'm not liking this incessant curiosity of yours."
Kagome winced. Of course, he would point out the mistake, not that she had much choice, as she'd made the pact under duress. "It's not like you give me much choice."
"Well, since we're being so honest, answer me, Kagome," she shivered, his eyes glowing brighter. "Why do you care so much about this brat?"
She blinked, looking from Yuji's face to Sukuna's glowing eye. "He's my friend." It was simple, yet she could feel how it rang out as a half-truth. Nothing else came bubbling up. Even though Sukuna clearly wasn't satisfied, Kagome didn't have anything else to offer, and yet he weirdly seemed pleased.
He 'tsked, "Whatever." And then Sukuna's presence faded as his eyes closed.
The silence that followed was the loudest; it felt like a living thing as it settled between them.
Yuji's hands groaned as he had to force his hands to relax enough to let her go.
Nanami cleared his throat, turning his back. "Come on, we have somewhere to be." Then he was heading back downstairs, and the two followed, with Yuji trailing a few steps behind, his eyes a little unfocused, seemingly lost in his own world.
wolfYLady: I hope you enjoyed it! I originally wanted to write more about Kagome at the shrine, but as she will be returning sometime in the future, I wanted to get her back with the JJK gang. We will soon meet Junpei and Mahito! But first, we had to meet the one and only Nanami (god, I love this man!).
Until next time!