FLASHBACK – Rinami Senju 7 years ago
Rinami had been walking through downtown looking to do some shopping when she caught sight of someone who looked like Gojo leaning against a railing down by the water. Gojo was almost always on the move. Even when he was called in for work she rarely saw him, and they hardly ever had time to speak. Curious as to what he would be doing alone and standing still, Rinami made her way over to say hello.
As she approached she could tell that something was going on. Gojo seemed almost solemn, and even as he sensed her approaching, the ridiculous smile that he pasted on his face was entirely too fake to even begin to fool her.
"Hey Rin! Good to see you! Doing shopping?"
With a small smile she stood next to him, placing her hands on the rail and gazing out at the water. The wind coming off the water whipped her hair frantically across her face.
"Satoru, what're you doing out here?" She said quietly
Gojo's tone changed and his voice dimmed a bit. His forearms resting on the rail, he leaned forward with his head down. "Not much. Just thinking a bit."
"About?"
He hesitated. "About Suguru"
Rinami looked at him as she tucked her wayward hair behind an ear. "Yeah?"
Gojo looked out towards the water. "Yeah. Sometimes certain things bring him to mind and I just wish I could get through to him. I miss him… a lot"
Rinami kept her eyes focused on him. This was the Gojo that she liked. The honest one, without all the gimmicky bravado. The one whose true heart she could see. Her heart throbbed as she watched him. She was able to feel his pain from there. Softly she'd placed her hand on his.
"You're not alone. I know it's probably not quite the same, but I think of him at times too. Actually… " She paused, contemplating her next words. Uncertain, Rinami studied Gojo's profile. He was serious and obviously pained as he remembered his friend. She bit her lip and shook her head subtly "Never mind. To tell the truth, I really miss his company as well."
Gojo turned to look at her, but Rinami couldn't see his eyes through the blindfold. Instinctively she reached out to pull it down and Gojo didn't stop her. The eyes that looked back at her were deep pools of blue, but they were so so sad. Rinami felt her heart catch in her chest and sadness overwhelmed her.
As he stared into her eyes, Gojo raised a hand and lightly stroked her cheek. She stopped breathing. For as long as she could remember Gojo had been the only one to touch her bare skin, but he'd never touched her like that before. The feeling was new and it invoked a strange emotion within her.
"Suguru… If he could hear you say that Rin… I know it would make him happy." Gojo hadn't taken his eyes off of her. He stepped closer, his hand still on her cheek, his other hand slipped slowly around her waist and pulled her into him. Rinami couldn't break eye contact. Was it his piercing blue eyes or because she still wasn't breathing and her brain had no oxygen? She couldn't tell, but her body seemed to move on its own as her hand tentatively reached around his neck, her fingers lightly sliding into the silky gray hair at the base of his neck.
Gojo had so much pain in his eyes and she'd wanted to release him from that. He seemed to be struggling with something. She watched him warring internally, her eyes locked with his. Whatever battle had been going on within him, one side finally won, and without a word Gojo leaned forward and brought his lips to hers. It was Rinami's first kiss and it lingered even after Gojo pulled back shaking his head.
"I shouldn't."
Before he could step away, Rinami reached out and caught his hand, tugging it back towards her and catching his eyes.
"But I want you to Satoru…" She blushed. "I…want-"
She saw the surprise in his eyes and before she could finish her sentence he had collected her in his arms and was kissing her again, his fingers tangled in her hair and the other arm wrapped possessively around her back holding her tightly to him. She threw her arms around his neck like a lifeline, clinging desperately to him and pulling herself in as closely to him as she could. They kissed furiously and passionately like this until neither could breathe and they were forced to separate. Rinami, returning to her senses and embarrassed at the public display, immediately leaned forward and buried her face into his shoulder. While Gojo, who had zero shame in anything he did, stroked her hair and kissed her head. She sensed that he seemed to be bothered or feeling bad about something but as she questioned him, he refused to talk about it. He only lightly kissed her again, and nothing would ever be the same for the two of them from that point on…