Satoru Gojo watched from a distance as Megumi Fushiguro conversed with his sister, Tsumiki. His expression was unreadable, a mask of indifference that hid the turbulence beneath. Standing at his side, Gojo Sabanto , Satoru's assigned aide, observed him closely, noting the unusual stillness in his young ward. Satoru, usually so reckless and full of bravado, now looked almost… uneasy.
Sabanto didn't comment, though he had been warned by the Gojo elders about moments like this—moments when the heir's sharp arrogance would dull, leaving behind something more raw and vulnerable. It was why the clan had assigned Sabanto to him in the first place: to clean up the inevitable messes, to soften the damage caused by Satoru's disregard for custom and consequence. Sabanto was calm by nature, patient in ways Satoru was not. And though the boy constantly tested his limits, Sabanto had learned to navigate the chaos with quiet efficiency.
Satoru hadn't originally intended for Sabanto to accompany him today. He'd meant to meet Megumi on his own, but the truth was, he didn't even know where the kid lived. All he had was a vague lead from Toji Zenin, Megumi's father, who had cryptically mentioned selling his son to the Zenin clan in a year's time. When Satoru had finally shared this with Sabanto, the aide insisted on coming along.
"Just in case you do something reckless again, my lord," Sabanto had said, his tone polite but pointed.
Satoru hadn't argued. Not because Sabanto was wrong—he wasn't—but because Satoru was tired. The weight of recent events clung to him like a shadow. Riko Amanai's death, his near-fatal encounter with Toji Zenin, unlocking his full potential only to be met with more questions… It had been a grueling few months, and for once, Satoru didn't have the energy to push back.
"Fine," he had said, as long as Sabanto agreed not to appear in front of Megumi. Satoru wanted the meeting to be one-on-one, without overwhelming the boy.
Sabanto had been mildly offended, but he complied.
And so, here they were, silently observing from a distance. Tsumiki, her bright demeanor slowly returning, peppered Megumi with questions—innocent curiosities about their next day at school. Megumi answered in clipped responses, his face set in that brooding expression Satoru had heard from Sabanto's report. It was clear that Megumi was protective of Tsumiki, and despite his aloofness, Satoru could see the care in the boy's eyes.
"Damn, he's the spitting image of him," Satoru muttered, his voice low, a slight grimace pulling at his lips.
Sabanto, ever composed, responded, "If you say so, sir." He hadn't met Toji Zenin, and frankly, he considered himself fortunate. Those who did often didn't live to tell the tale. "Will you approach him now, my lord?"
Satoru hesitated, his fingers twitching at his side. "Yeah, yeah, I'm getting to that," he said with forced nonchalance. He wasn't used to feeling unsure. "Just keep quiet until I get back."
As Satoru began his approach, memories surfaced. Sabanto's research had revealed that Toji had sold his son to the Zenin clan for a hefty sum, contingent on whether the boy inherited a cursed technique. It was sickening. The Zenin clan planned to mold Megumi into their weapon, twisting him to fit their needs. Worse still, Megumi didn't even know what was coming. He was oblivious to the world of sorcerers, to the web of lies being spun around him. He only cared about protecting Tsumiki, and the Zenin clan would undoubtedly use that against him.
Satoru knew this world too well. The Zenins were no place for a gentle girl like Tsumiki. Promises of safety and security were hollow—tools to control and corrupt. He could already see how Megumi would be manipulated, his innocence stripped away, leaving nothing but a pawn for their twisted games.
Satoru's grip tightened as he walked, his mind spinning faster with each step. The closer he got, the more vivid his memories became. Megumi's face, the way his dark hair fell over his eyes, triggered something deep inside him—a sudden flash of another face. The face of the man who nearly killed him.
Toji Zenin.
Satoru's chest tightened as the memories flooded back. Riko Amanai, her lifeless body crumpled at his feet. The moment he unlocked his true power, obliterating half of Toji's body with power he hadn't known he possessed. The sound of cultists cheering, the bitter taste of victory tainted with loss. The past year had been a whirlwind of pain and loss, and now, standing before Megumi, Satoru could feel it all crashing back.
"Are you Satoru Gojo because you're the strongest, or are you the strongest because you're Satoru Gojo?" The words echoed in his mind, Geto's voice cutting through the haze like a blade.
Satoru froze, his breath hitching as he was yanked back into the present. He stared at Megumi, the boy who had nothing to do with any of this, and yet… he was the son of the man who had taken so much from him. Satoru's heart clenched with something he didn't recognize—was this bitterness? Anger? He hadn't thought he was capable of holding a grudge, yet here it was, festering beneath the surface.
He couldn't do it. He couldn't face the boy, not now.
Without a word, Satoru turned on his heel and walked back to Sabanto.
"Sir, are you alright?" Sabanto's voice was filled with concern, though carefully measured, as always.
"We're heading back to the clan compound, Sabanto," Satoru said sharply.
"Sir?" Sabanto blinked in surprise. "But you haven't even spoken to the Fushiguro boy yet—"
"I said we're heading back!" Satoru snapped, his voice louder now, the edge unmistakable.
"But won't he and his sister be sold to the Zenin clan?" Sabanto pressed, his usually calm demeanor cracking ever so slightly.
"Not my problem!" Satoru barked, frustration boiling over. "The Zenins won't be stupid enough to mistreat them. Megumi's potential is too valuable. They'll keep him and the girl safe—for now."
Sabanto hesitated, frowning. "Forgive me, sir, but this seems... heartless, even for you."
Satoru's eyes flashed with something dark. "I've had a really crappy last few months, Sabanto. I can't be expected to fix everything." He paused, then added with a mocking grin, "Besides, you should be happy. You won't have to explain this to the elders, and I won't have to listen to their complaints."
Sabanto remained silent for a moment, his gaze searching Satoru's face. "As you wish, my lord."
Without another word, they turned and left, the weight of unspoken things hanging heavy between them. With that, the fates of the young Fushigoro children were sealed that day although neither of them were aware of what awaited them.
—oOo—
A few weeks later
The sun had already begun its descent, casting long shadows across the suburban streets of Tokyo as Megumi and Tsumiki Fushiguro walked quietly side by side. They had just finished an exhausting day of school and were heading home. The cool evening breeze whispered through the leaves, carrying the faint scent of rain on the horizon. Megumi, with his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets, kept his gaze fixed ahead. He was always alert, always cautious. Tsumiki, ever the gentle one, walked with a more relaxed stride, through her eyes would occasionally glance at her younger brother, sensing his unease.
They spent their walk by talking about what happened during the day. It mostly consisted of Tsumiki complaining to Megumi about how he got into another fight with a bully.
''Why do you always have to do this? Can't you try just talking with them or something?''
''Hey he brought it on himself, he was picking on Isamu just because he gained a little bit of weight. Someone had to do something.''
''But that's just what I'm what I'm saying. You didn't even try to talk him down you just lunged straight at him. I am glad you helped Isamu, but maybe you could try talking with that bully first. Maybe he just has a hard time at home after his mom left him and his dad. Violence is wrong Megumi!''
''Fine, fine I'll try it your way next time''
''Great glad to hear it!'' And just like that Tsumiki's cheerful smile returned to her face and the two children continued their peaceful walk.
Just as they were about to turn the corner to their street, a small figure stepped into their path. The man was short, barely taller than Tsumiki, yet there was something sharp and composed about his demeanor. His attire—a simple, neat black suit—was immaculate. His hair was neatly styled with a small, pointed tuft on top of his head. He had a mustache, and his face shows signs of age, with pronounced wrinkles.
Megumi's instincts flared. He didn't trust strangers, especially adults. He immediately moved in front of Tsumiki, his posture stiffening, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"What do you want?" Megumi's voice was hard, protective. He felt his pulse quicken as he glared at the man who appeared in front of them.
This man, however, remained unbothered, his expression unreadable. His small stature did nothing to diminish the air of authority around him. Despite the aggression in Megumi's stance, the man's cool, calm demeanor remained unshaken.
Before the tension could escalate further, Tsumiki gently placed a hand on Megumi's shoulder. "Megumi, don't be rude," she chided softly, her tone soothing but firm. She stepped forward, offering a polite bow to the stranger. "I apologize for my brother's behavior. I am Tsumiki and this is my brother Megumi. May I ask your name and what brings you here?"
The short man regarded her with a slight nod of acknowledgment. "My name is Furudate, personal lawyer of the Zenin clan."
The name "Zenin" hung in the air between them, unfamiliar, yet carrying a weight that neither Megumi nor Tsumiki could fully understand. Both exchanged confused glances. They had never heard of the Zenin clan before.
"The Zenin clan?" Tsumiki echoed, tilting her head slightly. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we have ever heard of them."
Furudate adjusted his glasses and offered a thin smile. "Of course you haven't heard of them. The existence of the Zenin clan is not something known to most… non-sorcerers."
That single word—"non-sorcerers"—shifted the entire mood of the conversation. Megumi's brows furrowed deeper. Tsumiki blinked in surprise.
"Non-sorcerers?" Megumi repeated, his voice skeptical. "What are you talking about? There's no such thing as sorcerers."
Furudate's smile widened, but his eyes remained cold and calculating. "On the contrary. There are many Jujutsu sorcerers living in Japan. They exist in secret, hidden from the eyes of most. And among them are powerful clans that support this hidden society. The Gojo, Kamo, and Zenin clans are the three most prominent."
Megumi folded his arms across his chest, his scowl deepening. "So what? You expect us to believe this nonsense just because you said so? Sounds like you're trying to take advantage of us because we're kids."
"Megumi!" Tsumiki's voice was sharp, cutting through his disbelief. She bowed again to Furudate, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm really sorry about him. Please, continue."
Furudate's expression softened slightly as he cleared his throat. "As I said, there are powerful Jujutsu sorcerer clans, and the Zenin clan is one of them. And you, Megumi Fushiguro, have ties to this clan. Your father, Toji Fushiguro, was once a member. His real name is Toji Zenin."
The revelation hit the siblings like a tidal wave. Tsumiki's face paled, while Megumi remained still, processing the sudden information. The world seemed to tilt slightly for them as their whole world suddenly flipped around.
Furudate, noticing their confusion, continued. "Your father severed all ties with the Zenin clan years ago. But after you were born, he made a deal with the clan's head, Naobito Zenin, to sell you to the Zenin family."
"What…?" Tsumiki whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief and disgust. She stepped closer to Megumi, instinctively protective, as if shielding him from this cruel truth. The idea that someone could treat Megumi like an object to be traded made her stomach churn.
To their surprise, Megumi didn't react as explosively as expected. Instead, his face remained calm, almost too calm. He looked down for a moment, then back up at Furudate.
"That explains a lot," he said quietly. "That's why he left."
Tsumiki looked at him, wide-eyed. "Megumi…"
Furudate raised an eyebrow. "You're taking this quite well."
"I always suspected something," Megumi admitted, his voice devoid of emotion. "When my dad left us a year ago, I had a feeling something was off. I guess this is it."
Furudate studied the boy carefully. Megumi's calmness was unexpected, but the lawyer chose to remain silent on the matter. "If you wish, I can tell you where your father is now."
"I don't care," Megumi said flatly. "He's probably off with some other woman, isn't he?"
Furudate nodded slightly, though he kept certain details to himself. No need to reveal everything just yet.
"What happens now?" Megumi asked, cutting to the point. "You said he sold me, right? So, what's your plan?"
"The Zenin clan expects you to return with me to their estate," Furudate said matter-of-factly. "It was part of the agreement."
Megumi scoffed, his lips curling into a smirk. "So, I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Furudate didn't deny it. "It would be preferable if you came willingly. It would make things easier for everyone involved."
Megumi paused, his gaze shifting to Tsumiki. "What about her? What will happen to Tsumiki?"
Furudate hesitated for a moment, weighing his words carefully. "I will ensure that proper arrangements are made for her. I will speak with Master Naobito personally."
Megumi's eyes narrowed, but after a long silence, he finally relented. "Fine. I'll go. But only if Tsumiki's treated well."
Furudate offered a shallow nod, though his thoughts were harder to read. "Very well. You may return home and gather your belongings. We'll leave for the Zenin estate shortly."
As they walked home, Tsumiki couldn't help but worry. "Megumi… are you sure about this? You agreed too quickly. We don't know anything about these people."
"I didn't have a choice," Megumi replied, his voice steady. "Besides, we need the money. They seem rich, and as long as they take care of you, I don't care what they want from me."
Tsumiki blushed slightly at his blunt concern for her but still felt uneasy. "But… don't you also want to know more about your father and where he came from?"
Megumi remained silent for a long moment before snapping, "That's nonsense."
But as they packed their belongings and made their way back to Furudate, Tsumiki couldn't shake the feeling that her brother was hiding something deeper.
When they arrived at the meeting point, Furudate stood waiting with two well-dressed men in black suits. Tsumiki's eyes widened at the sight of the sleek black limousine parked at the curb. Megumi, however, remained expressionless as they were guided into the luxurious vehicle.
The drive to the Zenin estate felt surreal. The buildings grew grander, the streets quieter. By the time they arrived, the estate loomed before them—a massive compound surrounded by high walls and intricate stonework. Even Megumi couldn't hide his surprise at the sheer size of the place.
As they were led through the sprawling estate, whispers followed them, servants and clan members eyeing them curiously. Tsumiki could feel the weight of their stares, her nerves tightening with each step. But Megumi walked with an indifferent stride, his face a mask of calm.
Finally, they were brought to separate rooms, far larger and more opulent than anything they'd ever known. As they settled in, Furudate's parting words echoed in their minds: "The clan head will return soon. He is eager to meet you."
Megumi simply nodded at the man's words and went to sleep, knowing the next couple of days are gonna be quite exhausting.