April 4th was supposed to be a great day.
It was sunny. Like bright light kids' TV show sunny.
The kind of sunny where not a cloud was in the sky. The kind of sunny where fucking birds were chirping and the heat was damn near beating on your back.
The kind of sunny curses hated. The perfect clock-out early weather.
April 4th was also Satoru's niece's birthday, and his day off….so why, pray fucking tell why is he dealing with his hundredth fucking curse right now.
He groaned, pushing back his bangs and the sweat of the blindfold away as more and more curses pop out of the field like demonic fucking sunflowers.
Fifty, Fuck. You would think the Ryomen had it out for him or something.
"Come on! I don't have time for this!, Gojo mumbled, as he once again sped pulverized the fortieth new curses and blasted the last ten. As he groans and complains, a chill hits the air. His electric blue eyes light up behind his blindfold, and a cloud of curse energy enters the field.
A special grade…great.
Fuck. This is gonna take a minute.
Scratch that, it's gonna take 20 minutes. Twenty long fucking minutes because of course as soon as he finishes with one curse, another just pops up in its place.
Damn, Miwa's gonna kill him. Demolish him even.
But, it's not like Miwa could really be mad, there aren't many active sorcerers who could've handled those curses single-handedly.
He only knew of seven, and three of them were at the party soooo….. Ya she couldn't really blame him.
He shouldn't even feel bad.
He was doing his job, for fucks sake.
But still, he knows his niece. He knows how quick she is to cry. How quick she is to tug on his heartstrings.
And he figures before her big purple eyes tear up and shame him, he should probably bring a better apology than "sorry I had work".
He's not fucking Nanami for Christ's sake.
So that brings him to where he is now, infinity on standing at his sister's overly lavish doorway, carrying ten boxes of cakes, ice creams, and candies respectively.
Cause nothing says I'm sorry quite like sweets.
And maybeeeee he was kinda craving a little souvenir from the Netherlands.
He grins, pushing the boxes out of his field of vision as he shuffles to the doorbell. He struggles for a bit, feet shifting as he tries to move and hold the boxes, the doorbell inches away from his big toe.
Shit, should've made Ichiji carry at least one of them.
After a bit of a balance brawl, and a lot of luck, Satoru finally manages to ring the doorbell. The loud gong of the bell barely has time to hit his ears before the front door swings open.
"And here I thought you were gifting us with your absence", Kento mumbles, shifting his gaze and walking Gojo through the door.
Satoru sheepish grins, a guilty expression creeping on through, "Yeah look I know I'm late but-
He paused. Expecting a bustling party filled to the brim with sticky giggling munchkins and met with.… nothing. The entire entryway while heavily decorated was empty, not a soul in sight. And that's with his Six eyes. "What's going on", he mumbled, his confusion more than apparent.
Kento grimaced, "Miwa is upset and refusing to leave her room, Mechamaru is trying to get her out", he replies, eyes trailing up the staircase before landing back to the den where a sea of kiddos stand, "We're trying to keep the kids entertained in the meantime but it's a little hard when all they want is to play party games".
He says more, but Gojo doesn't hear him. He can't. Because in that second the sea of kiddos part, each kid hurriedly finding a spot on the floor. Their little eyes are wide as they stare, captivated by the dark-haired beauty singing in the center.
Utahime Zenin- wait no she took her mother's maiden name back, right?
What was it again, Ioro?
Iore?
Ugh, who cares.
None of this even matters, because, for the first time in four years, Utahime his ex-wife is within his field of vision.
This shouldn't hurt as much as it does.
'What is she doing here", Gojo cuts. He doesn't mean for his voice to hold the bitterness it does, but he can't exactly help it.
Because what the fuck was this.
Miwa was HIS niece.
This was his family.
Utahime made it very clear she didn't want to be a part of that anymore.
So why, why the fuck is she here.
Nanami blinks, shifting his focus from the kids to follow Gojo's gaze. "She was here before I got here, apparently she helped Mechamaru set up", he casually explains.
Casually, like this shit was normal.
Like it was expected.
And maybe in the past it use to be, but now?
"Where's Meimei", Gojo mutters, eager to change the subject and the scenery. Meimei was always a good stress reliever.
She'd keep his mind off of it for a least a second.
Kento sends him a pointed look, "Why else would Miwa be crying on her birthday".
Damn, okay his sister's a money-hungry asshole, nothing new.
But fuck has Meimei ever missed a birthday. Has she ever taken a mission on the day of Miwa's birthday? Maybe something is wrong. Maybe he should check it out.
As he mules over it Utahime's voice slows down, a decrescendo in whatever tune she was singing. She looked the same, dressed in a white sun dress that should look prudish but for some reason didn't. Her hair was a bit longer he supposed, wrapped in a ribbon.
Like the ones he used to bring her back from his trips. The one she wore at their wedding.
Yeah, he should definitely check in with Meimei.
If not to help his niece then at least to get away from his ex-wife.
So he bids, Nanami a farewell, playfully grinning and smacking his lips on the brooding blonde's forehead. Kento of course immediately complains, swiping up at Satoru with amazing speed.
It's too bad Satoru's faster.
When Gojo makes it upstairs, Mechamaru is standing-eh sitting near the door. A tired and overall exhausted expression etched on his face. "Miwa baby, please let daddy in", Mechamaru pleaded, as he profusely knocked on the door.
He was met with silence, and based on his expression he wasn't too surprised about it.
He was however surprised when Satoru materialized next to him, a cold hand draped over his shoulder before he could even blink." Hey Sparky", Gojo whispers, prompting the wheelchair-clad man to not only yell but squeal. His voice a high-pitched wail as he nearly jumped out of his seat. The ice cream he had been carrying spattered over his shirt.
A bonus, if Satoru's giggles meant anything.
When Mechamaru finally did grab his bearings and realized just who had spooked him, the dark-haired man sent Gojo his most unimpressed glare, "You're such an jerk", he grumbled.
Gojo shrugged, for a Geto, he always thought Mechamaru was a little squeamish.
And as his brother-in-law, how could he not take advantage of that?
So yeah maybe that was a little asshole of him. But he was a Gojo, it was standard to be an asshole. Speaking of which, "I hear Meimei has lost her fucking mind this year", he chimed, his voice still playful. Still jolly.
But there was a slight edge to it, a clear please don't tell me I'm right kind of anger.
Mechamaru sighed, he really didn't want to get into it, "Mei is trying, she's just tied up back at the Gojo estate. She promised she and Yuuta would swing by soon, but Miwa's not really trying to hear that".
Satoru hums, "Probably cause a mother shouldn't be swinging by her daughter's birthday party", he then pauses, taking a moment to truly look at the miserable man that was Mechamaru. Poor sap, he's probably ready to tear his hair out. "Look go clean yourself up, and get the rest of the kids started on a game. I'll get Miwa and Meimei to the backyard".
For a second it looks like Mechamaru was going to refuse, he doesn't exactly like the idea of celebrating without Miwa….but he has been at this door for an hour now.
And Satoru always did have a special bond with Miwa.
So instead of refusing, instead of even replying Mechamaru shifts, the wheels of his chairs spinning until he is floating. He then sends Miwa's door one final glance and flies away.
If not to take Gojo's advice, at least to clean his shirt.
When the spinning of wheels is no longer audible, and the stuffiness of his cursed energy is gone Satoru breaks into a grand grin, poses his fist near the pink-clad door, and knocks.
Bump Ba Bump Ba Bump Ba
An obnoxious, can't ignore me if you tried to knock.
A Satoru staple.
"Daddy please, I don't want to have a party anymore", a stuffy voice quickly yells.
Clearly, the knocking has at least annoyed Miwa into speaking.
Still, Satoru doesn't stop knocking as he cheekily replies, "It's not your dad, it's your favorite person in the whole wide world. Your favorite uncle forever and ever", he sings.
Silence. No- a pause.
Satoru's not too worried. He can hear Miwa's little feet shuffle towards the door. He can see her cursed energy approaching.
Then the door creaks just the slightest, and a watery lilac eye poked through the crack.
"Uncle Gojo", Miwa mumbles, and Satoru pouts as he can't even revel in the fact that he once again beat Suguru on the favorite uncle scale.
His little niece is crying on her birthday. Fuck being the favorite.
He crouches down, electric blue meets lavender lilac, "The one and only, can I come in".
Miwa pauses once again, pondering for a moment before reluctantly nodding, the crack of the door not even opening the slightest.
A clear sign if any that the eight-year-old was subject to change her mind.
Satoru doesn't bother giving her the chance.
He shuffles in quickly, smiling as he is met with the most extravagantly girly room he has ever seen. A grand king-sized castle bed, three stuffed animal hammocks, two vanities, a slide, and a ball pit.
Miwa was a little fucking princess if he's ever seen one.
Still, even princess have their bad days. And Miwa is clearly having her worst as she sits at her tea set and glares at the ground. Her face was puffy and red, cursed energy swirling all about.
Satoru hates the sight of it.
He closes the door, pushes his long limbs into the most uncomfortable position, and peers down at the colorfully dressed birthday girl.
"Penny for your thoughts", he mumbles, as he fishes a sucker out of his pocket and pushes it toward his niece.
Miwa always was more susceptible to sweets than money.
A bad habit Meimei swears she picked up from Satoru.
Miwa frowns, unwraps the candy, and shuffles it into her mouth. She appears to be struggling with her own thoughts, unsure of just what to say.
Unsure of how to say it.
But her Uncle Gojo is as patient as ever as ever, moving his own candy all the way from one cheek to the other. Waiting as the little girl opens and closes her mouth.
"I just…I wish people liked me enough", she finally mutters, her voice hesitate and uneasy.
She wasn't really sure he would understand.
And Satoru's instant rebuttal doesn't exactly help.
"Hey what do you mean people like you', he exclaims, his white eyebrows furrowed into the height of disbelief.
Because that's absurd. Thats crazy.
People do like her, how couldn't they?
Miwa is a ball of sunshine and lavender frills.
She's the nicest and sweetest kiddo. Never one to bully or hurt anyone's feelings.
The most caring and kind Gojo in history.
The best in his opinion.
She has to see that.
She has to know that.
He wants so badly for her to know that.
Miwa sighs, the sucker stick accentuating her pout. Of course, Uncle Gojo wouldn't understand everyone liked him.
Everyone loved him.
"Mama doesn't", Miwa cuts, her voice way too resolve, way too heavy for an eight-year-old.
Satoru glares, he fucking hates his sister at this moment, "Yes she does", he swears but Miwa doesn't seem too convinced.
Her Mama had been missing a lot of her events lately.
She even missed her ballet recital last week to train with Yuta.
Mama always had time for Yuta.
If she liked her, if Miwa was a little better. Maybe she wouldn't.
Still, Miwa doesn't bother voicing any of that to her Uncle, instead, she sniffs, "Grandma and Grandpa don't either. Daddy said they're not coming".
At this Satoru couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Grandma and Grandpa are weirdos, trust me you don't want them to come", he asserts.
Because seriously his parents missing is a gift on its own.
"Besides if they came then Yuji would have to miss. ", he adds after a moment, hoping the mention of the half-cursed boy would sway Miwa to see reason.
It seems to work, the little girl's pout lifts just the slightest. Miwa always did like Yuji. And even though she doesn't quite get it, she does know that Yuji's very existence is a big secret.
A secret no one in jujitsu society can know about.
Especially not traditional leaders like Suzin and Maori Gojo.
Reluctantly Miwa nods once more, her voice soft and still so unsure, "I know, and I'm glad Yuji can be here but… I still wish- I still want everyone here ya know. Grandma,Grandpa,Mama, Yuta, Yuji, Nobara, you and Mai."
This time Gojo pauses, Mai?
Naoya and Maki's daughter? That doesn't make sense.
It's a known fact Naoya kept the little girl locked up in the Zenin estate. Even Maki her own mother wasn't allowed to see her. And it's not like the Zenin clan and the Gojo clan were exactly buddy-buddy.
So how the hell does his little niece know her?
"I mean Mai promised she would come! Pinky promised even. Best friends don't break pinky promises" Miwa cried, her sucker now forgotten as she puts on her biggest pout and her eyes watered.
Ah, so that was it.
Don't get it wrong Miwa is upset her mother is late, mad that her younger brother was too. But she was sad for a whole other person's absence.
Mai.
Her supposed best friend. The one who Pinky promised she would come.
Gojo didn't know how to respond to that, he was still kinda reeling from the revelation that Mai even saw grass.
Best friends? Since fucking when.
"I didn't realize you guys were so close", he mumbles after another beat of silence.
Miwa sniffs, " We have play dates all the time at Miss Utahimes"
And again Gojo pauses.
The fuck?
Last he heard Utahime was completely alienated from the Zenin clan.
Denounced the second she and Gojo got married.
And while they're not exactly married anymore…he kinda thought.
"Ooops", Miwa gasped, suddenly grabbing Satoru's arm "Please don't tell. If you do, we won't get to hang out anymore. Please Uncle Gojo, please, please, please" she hurriedly whispered, her sadness seemingly forgotten as she pleads and pleads for her Uncle to keep his big mouth shut.
Gojo for the most part ignores her.
Secret playdates…. oh now that makes sense.
Because it's one thing to accept back the eldest Zenin daughter.
A whole other to let said daughter bring her niece to play with Miwa Gojo.
So of course, Mai can't come to Miwa's party.
Of course, it's a secret.
The Zenins would never allow the two girls to be in the same room, let alone be best friends.
But Utahime would.
It was in her nature to forget the long tradition of Gojo/ Zenin hate. To want everyone to get along.
Well….almost everyone.
"Hmmmmmmm", Gojo ponders, watching as Miwa pleads and pleads once more. He's not gonna tell, obviously. But he needs to figure out how he can spin this in his favor.
Miwa is begging now, her puppy dog eyes out on full display.
Good, it means she is desperate.
Finally, after what feels like years, her beloved Uncle Gojo, stops humming and proudly declares he will keep her secret.
"Yes", Miwa cheers, her face brightening to a wide splitting grin.
It falls the next second as Gojo assures her his silence will come with a price. A favor of sorts.
Favor? That can't be good.
Mind you Miwa was eight but not stupid.
A favor from Uncle Gojo never ended well.
The last favor she helped Uncle Gojo with got her uneven bangs and spanking from her Mama.
She'd rather not have a repeat.
But…she'd also rather keep seeing Mai four days a week.
So instead of listening to every other voice of logic in her little head, Miwa peers up at him, her nod reluctant but clear.
Anything for Mai.
Gojo smirks, Miwa always was so easy. But instead of blabbering off about his latest prank or joke as Miwa expects, the lengthy man mumbles a small, "Have fun", as he grabs the little girl, wipes her tears, and teleports her to the backyard.
Their particles shift, fade, and combine in seconds.
Neither Gojo even has a chance to blink the dizziness away before the rest of the kids flock to them. Yuji, Nobara, Kamo, and more. They're a squealing mess with water balloons in their hands and cupcake crumbs on their faces.
Miwa couldn't hold her sadness in if she tried.
And it's not exactly like she can.
She promised after all.
She quickly joins the rest of the kiddos, painting a smile on her face and a giggle in her throat.
She was gonna have fun, the most fun ever.
She pinky promises that.
She giggles some more, posing for pictures while simultaneously dodging all of Yuji's balloons and none of Kamo's.
Satoru grins as he watches her, Miwa was so easy, so kind.
It's a mystery how she even came from Meimei.
Ugh, that reminds him.
He has a bitch of a sister to collect.
He keeps his groan inward, as he teleports away. Best not to let Miwa know just how much he doesn't want to get her mother.
Besides, he's pretty sure the Gojo estate feeds on misery.
The estate itself is glorious. A castle with Victorian like gargoyles, granite steering, and stonewall arches.
It is the picture of extravagance and glamour.
Satoru's own little golden cell.
He nearly shudders when he arrives, his mind already hating the scenery more than his many memories here, so many fucking nightmares.
His cursed energy sufficates a gargoyle to his left. The stone breaking instantly.
"So much for keeping a low profile ", he mumbles, placing a hand on the wreckage and surveying the room.
Damn it, where the fuck was Yuta and Mei.
Suddenly a large monstrous screech was heard, followed by a childish yell and a stern command.
Satoru sighed, he knew those sounds.
The training room.
Fucking perfect.
Instantly he beams to the grand arena, his body more than a bit irritated at this point.
Seriously, April 4th was supposed to be a good fucking day.
As he glances around he can't help but be more annoyed. There sitting in the wings with not a worry on her porcelain face is his bitch of a sister Meimei. Beside her is a few of his uncles, surrounding them an array of Gojo cousins, and finally dead set in the center is his father and mother.
The head devils of their clan.
Everyone is smiling, looking down at the arena as if it was a fucking movie. The star of this film, poor little Yuta, Meimei's youngest child, and Satoru's only nephew.
The seven-year-old is holding a sword and a frown as a large grotesque curse circles him. It's a level two curse, with literal knives for teeth and swords for claws.
Kill Training, oh how ever fuck does Satoru NOT miss this.
He doesn't even think twice before he leaps down, destroying the curse with Red in one second and scooping up Yuta in the next.
His cousins cheer, they always were so easily pleased.
His father doesn't, he never was.
"Ahhh Satoru, what a pleasant surprise ", his mother chirped, taking off her diamond binoculars to grin down at her son.
Grin, right? Cause her fucking grandson's bleeding doesn't matter.
Satoru ignores her, instead, he focuses on assessing Yuta for more injuries and keeping pressure on the little boy's leg.
It's just a scratch but still. Why the fuck was his nephew bleeding.
Yuta whines a bit, clearly irritated with the pressure, but for the most part, he stays still. He waits as the dutiful little boy he is.
Shit, the kid barely even moves when Satoru pops his shoulder back into place.
He does however jump. The second his grandmother comes into his sight, the second Maori Gojo is in his presence little Yuta moves, his eyes down to the floor, body pressed into a bow.
Satoru tries not to be bothered by it.
"You've gotten so good at masking your energy love. I didn't even notice you were here", Maori Gojo gushed, immediately shooing Yuta away and draping her arms all over her son.
Satoru can see his sister snort before he hears it.
"Not really Mother, he came in rather loud I'd say. Even broke a priceless gargoyle" Meimei quipped, her tone more bored than annoyed.
Their mother fawning over Satoru, typical.
So typical in fact, Meimei is not even surprised when her mother doesn't bother replying. The woman still happily chatting and grinning up at Satoru, "Well I'm quite happy to see you, what has it been two years nearly", Maori gushed.
18 months, actually. Gojo made it a point to stay far far far fucking away from home.
"I've been busy", he mumbles as his mother squishes him and nods. A few of his cousins flock to their side, their praise blared out more than their greetings.
Satoru!
How nice it is to be in your presence.
The top sorcerer.
Number one in Jujitsu society.
The Golden Heir.
We're so proud, so very proud.
Everyone is always so fucking proud.
"I assume you've disrupted Yuta's training for some an important announcement? Do tell boy. Another promotion? A new technique? Another girlfriend", his father cuts, his voice still the same stern, and regal power it was fifteen years ago.
Will the man ever change?
Satoru rolls his eyes, his father had a talent for getting under his skin, "I have nothing new. Sorry to disappoint".
"Oh dear hush, you could never", his mother happily interrupts, once again placing her hand lovingly around Satoru's pale face, "Though you may consider getting one of those girls pregnant. Yuta is a very powerful heir with a great technique, but a child from your loins-
Fuck- he couldn't do this.
His mother's hand nearly shatters, when he quickly moves, away. The force of his speed sloppy and hard. His cousins gasp are instant, everyone so eager to help the damaged queen.
No one stops Satoru, not even his father. Instead, Suzin Gojo just smiles, damn near laughs.
That boy of his, his masterpiece. He never did have a true grasp of control.
Satoru moves quickly beaming to Yuta first. The meek boy thankfully was done with his healing session and quick to grab his uncle's hand. Satoru then beams near Meimei's side, he knows she won't grab his hand so he grabs her's instead.
After he slaps a hand around her mouth of course.
Meimei bites him, fucking claws at his hands, and curses. But it doesn't matter. In that next second, the three Gojo's are teleported away, back to Meimei's home, and far fucking away from hell.
Well as far as Satoru can be with a she-devil of a sister.
"What the hell is wrong with you", Meimei yells, pushing against her brother's chest the instant her feet touch the ground.
Satoru glares, he really didn't want to argue with her, and he definitely shouldn't at Miwa's birthday party, but…..
"Seriously have lost your fucking mind. Yuta needs to train. Father was helping him".
Helping…she can't be fucking serious.
If anyone knows how fucking helpful fathers training was it's Satoru.
"Yuta is seven and your daughter Miwa is eight go fucking celebrate", he bites back.
At this, Meimei can't help but roll her eyes. Just who the hell did Satoru think he was ordering around? She opens her mouth again, ready to tell him fuck you in every language she knows. But then a blue-haired blur crashes into her, and her focus shifts.
"Mommy you came" Miwa yells, smothering her face into Meimei's skirt. She's getting icing and cookie crumbs all over it, but Meimei doesn't care.
Her little princess looks positively adorable, so cute in the custom designer she ordered.
Meimei's quick to hug Miwa back, praise her, and cuddle her up. Her baby, look how big her baby is now.
While Miwa giggles and Meimei smooches, Satoru thinks now is the perfect time to make his grand escape.
It should be no shocker he ends up by the snack table.
He grins, and pops a cupcake in his mouth.
Ah finally, a chance to breathe.
"And the day is saved again, thanks to earth's mightiest hero" a velvet voice teases, a hand playfully ruffling Satoru's snow-white hair.
Gojo grins, he'd know that palm anywhere, "Gotta stay at the top of Miwa's favorite list somehow".
Suguru Geto actually has the nerve to smirk, a devious smile if Gojo's ever seen one.
"The kids and I got her that babydoll from Taiwan, the rare shit that's way too much fucking money. I'm not sorry to say I think you may have been dethroned", Geto boasts, his smile poignant and fresh. It falls the second Satoru recounts his and Miwa's early doorway conversation.
Her favorite Uncle- forever and ever- so not Uncle Geto
Suguru curses, "Fuck, well at least I'm Nanako and Mimiko's favorite".
This time Gojo doesn't even have to try to smile, Geto always bringing out the best of him. "You're their Dad, that doesn't count", he playfully argued, 'cause come on Suguru can't be serious.
But Suguru only waves him off, his mind already happy with his end results.
Oh god, what a serious clown, he was.
As the two men banter once more, and engulf way more sweets than they should, a laugh cuts through the yard. A beautiful chirp, melodic and graceful.
Utahime.
Fuck, he had forgotten she was here.
Why is she here?
"You okay", Suguru mumbles, his hand already on Satoru's shoulder.
Gojo barely acknowledges it, his focus still on the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. "I can't do this", he grumbles, ready more than anything to beam away. Suguru's hold on his shoulder tightens, strict cuffs only his best friend could give.
"Yeah, you can", Suguru reasures but it sounds empty and fuddled when Satoru's mind is still focused to his left.
God, she's pretty.
Gojo sniffs, "Oh come on it's her", he reminds. Cause if anyone knew the troubled story of Utahime and Satoru it would be Suguru.
The man should have at least an ounce of pity for him.
But he doesn't.
Suguru barely even shakes his head, taking his hand off of Satoru's shoulder instead to gesture to their right. Shoko Ieri, skinny, beautiful, and clearly brooding. "My angry, not talking to me at the moment wife blocked my number and drove herself here, so forgive me for not feeling too merciful today".
Satoru groans, leave it to Shoko to ruin his guilt trip. "What's got Shoko's panties in a bunch".
Suguru shrugged, these days it seemed like everything pissed Shoko off. "The point is, Meimei's house is bigger than fucking Disneyland. If I can avoid Sho and her thousand-yard glare, you can at least try to ignore Utahime".
Ugh, this had gotta be Gojo's millionth groan that day.
Ignore Utahime, pssssh he can't even stand her.
Like literally he can barely stand the sight of her.
Still, Satoru does try, he tries really fucking hard.
He plays games and ignores Utahime.
Eats sweets, and ignores Utahime.
Gets on Meimei's nerves, and ignores Utahime.
He ignores Utahime like it's second nature like it's fucking easy peasy.
Except it's not because he notices her cursed energy more than anyone's. He smells her perfume in a sea of scents. He smiles at the sound of her laugh before his mind can give him reasons he shouldn't.
It's not easy to ignore Utahime. He's not even sure he knows how.
He does know, however, how to fake it.
How to pretend Utahime Iori's very existence doesn't bother him.
And that's what he does, he pretends the whole day.
He pretends when he plays games.
Pretends when he stuffs his face with sweets.
He even pretends as he swatts at Meimei's crows, irritating her to the max.
And he's really good at, pretending that is.
So good that everything seems normal, everything seems perfect.
But then they sing Happy Birthday.
But then all the kids are yelling, squealing, and laughing and Miwa's smiling with cake splattered on her face. Nanami's fretting over napkins, Meimei is holding in her chuckles, Suguru and Shoko are making out, Mechamaru's taking way too many pictures, and Utahime is…..gone.
Her cursed energy finally giving Satoru some relief.
Finally letting him breathe.
Except he can't.
She isn't here. When she would be here.
When she was just here.
Why isn't she here?
Call it a bad habit or call it just pure nosiness. Satoru can't help but search the house for her. He can't help but hone in on her spirit outside.
He can't help but stare at her cursed energy as it frantically flutters and shrinks.
And he can't help but worry.
He's outside before his body can even process the chill, frantically searching for her even though his eyes know exactly where she is.
When he finds her, she's sitting on the floor, her face a bit red, her scar damn near burgundy, ragged tears streaming down her cheeks.
She's crying, the hard hiccupy kind.
The I can't breathe kind.
Fuck.
"Hey, calm down", he mutters, falling down instantly, ruining his designer jeans, and not giving a single damn. "Hey, Hime you gotta calm down", he mutters again, infinity off, hands almost around her but not quite.
He's not so sure touching her would help her.
He's not so sure if he would help her.
If Utahime can hear him, she doesn't show it. Her hurried breaths only getting quicker and quicker. As she fumbles on the ground, gripping the grass, her knuckles pale, and her cheeks flush.
Fuck.
She's breathing harder and harder.
More and More.
Fuck.
He should go find someone else to help. Anyone else to help.
But everyone is inside, he doesn't want to scare any of the kids.
And he's never really had the strength to turn away from her.
He's always been so weak for her.
So with shaky hands, he envelopes her, hugs her close to his chest, and rocks a bit, cooing sweet promises in her ears.
He promises it's okay.
She's okay.
She'll be okay.
He's not sure who he's really trying to comfort with that.
It takes a minute but her cries lessen and her hiccups get small.
She's okay.
She'll be okay.
Seconds pass and Utahime finally wiggles in his arms, her mind coming back from the clouds of anxiety. She takes a second to gather her thoughts, control her breath, and glance at her surroundings.
It's then that she realizes who's holding her.
And just how wrong that was.
Utahime yelps, jumping out of Satoru's arms as if he burned her. Scrambling backward until her back hits a tree.
Ugh, why?
She had been doing so good at avoiding him.
So good at pretending he wasn't there.
Why? Fucking why?
Out of all the people. Out of all the fucking people.
Why did it have to be him?
She peers over at him, he looks the same. Perfect as always.
His jaw is closed tight, blue eyes set.
He's offended, upset actually.
Good, she is too.
More so with the fact that he can still calm her down with a fucking touch than anything else.
But still, he didn't need to know that.
He shouldn't know that.
But he also shouldn't know how bothered he still makes her.
Especially when he hasn't done anything but help her.
So against her better judgment, Utahime sighs, bites out a bad excuse and an even worse apology.
The picture of uncomfortable.
The essence of awkwardness.
Gojo shrugs, he's not going to even pretend that doesn't sting. "No biggie", he mutters while picking at his ear.
Utahime sees through it that second. It was a big deal. She felt his hesitation, she heard his heartbeat, she still hears it.
It's pounding.
He's scared.
She scared him, the great Satoru Gojo. The god amongst them all.
She shouldn't have that power over him, not anymore.
Gojo sighs, he knows her too. Knows that when she worries her lip like that, she's going down her own troubled train of thought. In the past she did it so often her lip would bleed, he'd hate it. "Does that happen a lot", he asked, gesturing to the attack.
He asked, halfway because he actually wanted to know and halfway because her lip was already turning red.
He really did wish she'd stop biting it.
She does eventually. Stop biting her lip that is.
Instead, her attention shifts to the floor, the ball of her foot playfully digging into the ground, a wish of any to disappear.
When it becomes clear that her wish isn't going to happen, she clicks her tongue, may as well get this over with, "Sometimes", she mumbles, ready more than ever for his usual belittling.
He always did say she lacked strength. Of course, he would find her at her weakest.
But Satoru doesn't pester her, he doesn't even tease her. He simply stares out at her and asks, "Why".
Utahime eyes snap up.
Why? God, is he really asking her why.
She fumbles for a bit, her voice steady but silent. She hadn't spoken to Satoru in person since they got a divorce, four years ago. All of their joint assets and money were discussed through their lawyers. And Gojo never did like talking about him, not after the incident.
But who could understand more than him?
Who would understand more than him?
"I never….", she starts, trying to keep her breathing even once more, "... I haven't been to a kid's party in a while and I know it's been years but I couldn't stop but picture him there and when I realized he wasn't I…missed him", she carefully explains not having the least bit of heart to say his name.
She didn't have to, the minute she shuddered, the second she breathed, Gojo knew.
Megumi. Of course, this was about Megumi.
Why wouldn't this be about Megumi?
He was the push of their avoidance, the clear wrinkle in their frowns, the forever tear in both of their eyes.
Their missing piece.
Megumi Gojo is- was their son. A boy birthed from two of the top clans in jujitsu society.
An heir of both the Gojo and Zenin clans.
The light of both his parent's eyes.
By now he would be six.
He would be six like Yuji and Nobara. He'd be smiling, happy, and laughing with the rest of the kiddos. He would have cake on his face, and his blue eyes would be twinkling, cause he'd definitely be as goofy as his father.
Or maybe he'd be a spitfire like Utahime.
It didn't matter, either way.
He would be their sweetest little angel, their perfect baby.
He would be six. He should be six.
Instead, Megumi Gojo was six feet under, damn near ashes, and a jawbone. A baby that will never grow up. A child that will never really exist.
It wasn't fair.
Satoru shakes his head, his lips tightening before he can stop it, "I get it, it's hard to enjoy these things…without him" he mutters back, exhausted just from the rabbit hole of what-ifs.
From the sea of grief.
It was funny, grief.
An ever-changing tide. Somedays it wets his feet, gives him a small chill, and maybe a shiver or two. And some days it swallows him whole, pulls him under, leaving him gasping for air.
He steals a glance back at Utahime, he wonders how often it swallows her.
She answers him before he can ask, always a mind reader at the worst time, "The attacks are tied with my PTSD, sometimes when I think of him, my body goes back to that day and his cries, and I-
"You freak out", he interrupts, hoping to steer the conversation back to Utahime's health and away from their dead child.
Utahime glares at him, she doesn't see his efforts as anything but rude."I get triggered, it's a normal reaction".
Gojo rolls his eyes, nothing about that anxiety attack seemed fucking normal, "Lemme guess your therapist said that", he grumbled, not even trying to hide his clear disgust.
Fucking , a thorn in his ass for years now. Utahime's personal rock since Megumi's passing.
A fucking quack if Satoru's ever seen one.
"Don't", she snaps, already sensing the argument brewing.
Satoru pays her no mind, opening his mouth before his brain can stop him. "I'm just saying you might wanna get a new 's not normal and it's not healthy".
Utahime scoffs, he never did listen. He always had to have the last fucking say.
She couldn't help but ruin that.
"You would know", she sarcastically quipped.
Satoru doesn't even bother pretending he didn't hear it, "What's that supposed to mean", he demanded, annoyed now more than he has been in months.
This is what he gets, for helping her. For caring?
He dares her to say more. Fucking elaborate, please.
Utahime rolls her eyes, she never backed down from a challenge, especially not from him "I'm just saying you're not the picture of health yourself", she mutters.
She somewhat hoped for once Satoru would leave it at that.
Let them both lick their wounds and go back to pretending like the other doesn't exist.
He never gives her what she wants.
"I'm not struggling with breathing at birthday parties and then acting like shit is all fine and dandy" Gojo sneers, his voice heavy, a mirror of his father's.
Snooty, angry, annoyed.
Utahime hates everything about it. Always so demeaning.
"No you just take mission after mission and pretend shit is all fine and dandy", she sneers back.
Her words are razor blades, sharpened by honesty and anger. Satoru shouldn't have to hear it, he doesn't want to.
"Shut up", he growls.
But Utahime doesn't listen, she never fucking listened.
"You talk all your shit about my anxiety but when was the last time you actually didn't work on your day off", she continued, now talking to speak her mind more than prove her point.
"Shut Up", Gojo growled again.
Utahime doesn't hear him, she can't, "When was the last time you really slept through the night", she added.
He places his hands over his ears, he doesn't want to hear her.
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up
"When was the last time you visited Megumi's grave" she asked and instantly Satoru screams.
"Shut up!" He fumes, beaming over to her side that instant. His electric blue eyes wide, frown present, palms almost grasping the energy circling around them.
He was domain-ready.
He was battle-ready.
And Utahime, his forever love, his worst enemy.
She's not even scared, doesn't even break her watery glare.
Satoru huffed, he hated her, oh how he wanted to fucking hate her.
A second hits the air, and Utahime blinks once, twice, before he is gone.
His last teleports of the day, his final fuck you goodbye.
A beam of light in the darkness between them.
Ghaaaaaaaaa can we say dramatique.
So hey, hello, howdy and all that. Gonna start this note with a non serious apology. Cause god, IDFK what this is besides a ball of chaos. Basically I watched JJK season 1 and 0 ( I refuse to watch season 2, atm lol) and have this fic stuck in my head on a running loop. Literally I can't get it to leave me alone lol, so I figured, write it out.
Obviously this is an AU. My idea is kinda weird but eh what else is new. Basically I'm kinda aging and de-aging some of the characters. Ooh also forcing some people to be related cause ya I need it for the PLOT.
Basic knowledge I feel like I should elaborate on.
In this world there are three species, humans, cursed users, and curses. Cursed users are human but with "gifts" (techniques). Curses are kinda like vampires, they eat blood and stuff.
There are a lot of cursed user clans, but the big three are the Zenin's, Gojo's and Ieri's
Utahime is from the Zenin Clan, she is Naoya's sister. Meimei is from the Gojo Clan, she is Gojo's sister. Yuki and Kento are siblings. Haibara Yu is a female and Nanami's late wife. Mechamaru and Suguru are siblings.
Btw I aged up Mechamaru and Maki, for this fic they are the same age as Nanami.
I also made Maki and Naoya, Mai's parents. ( Maki is obviously not a Zenin in this fic). Like literally, not even by name she divorced that jerk.
Geto isn't evil ( kinda), and he's alive, married to Shoko. Yay!
Yuji isn't Sukuna's vessel ( sort of), Yuji is half- curse
Jujitsu sorcerers are kinda like soldiers. They protect the cursed user lands and the humans from curses. There are lands completely inhabited by the curses (vampires). Like literally my dumb brain has a map and everthing lol. When I tell you this fic has completely taken over my mind, I mean it!
Anyways thank you so much for reading! This chapter was really a stage setter, nothing major. I kinda wanted to introduce the characters and give you all hints on the upcoming angst. I also really wanted to celebrate for Miwa, cause I just love her lol. I hope you all enjoyed. Please let me know what you think. I will try to update soon!