Being woken up before the sun is nothing new to Kagome. Being woken up because of the sounds of Satoru's over-the-top singing is. He doesn't even give her a chance to exchange her green cotton shorts and white tank top for something more appropriate for whatever it is they are doing.
"Is there a reason why we are up so early?" she asks, cradling the thermos in her hands. The coffee is way too sweet, and not nearly as strong as she needs it to be. "If you brought me out to the woods, just to kill me, you could have at least waited until after I had breakfast." She drinks the coffee, ignoring the laughs that erupt from him.
"Maybe I brought you out here to have my wicked way with you." He winks as he extends an arm forward; a spark of cursed energy leaves his fingertips and envelops them.
"We would've been more comfortable at home," she grumbles out and then immediately clasps a hand over her mouth. Heat spreads from her cheeks down her neck.
She did not mean to say that out loud!
"Sh-shut up!" she stammers out.
"Are you always this feisty in the morning?" He walks forward and drops his bag on the grass. Pulling out four cans, he sets them in a row. "Alright, sensei is going to teach you about curse techniques!" His arms thrust out as he gives a twirl.
If it weren't so early, Kagome may even crack a smile.
"I don't retain information this early. Can't we do this later?" She takes a large sip of the coffee; the sweetness makes her throat itch. "And what's with this barrier?" She points upwards to the thin coating.
"It's a veil. It keeps anyone from being able to see what happens within it, and your powers should hopefully not tip anyone off." He moves over to her side. "Now, watch." Liquid shoots upward from one can; there's an indent as if it has been hit with a blunt object. "That's pure cursed energy," he comments. The other can twists in onto itself, shooting liquid from its side and upwards. "That's cursed technique."
Kagome blinks, her lips twitch downward. She isn't quite sure that she understands completely.
"I think I get it."
"Great!" He walks back towards where the bag is leaning against a tree. "I got you a gift." Gojo grabs a bow and a handful of arrows from around the tree. "I came out here earlier to make sure it was a good spot," he offers up at her confused expression.
"Of course, you did," Kagome mutters, taking the bow from him, and then exchanging the thermos for two arrows. "My powers don't work in the same way." She holds one stem between her teeth, notching the other one. A burst of pink surrounds the arrow, the moment she releases. It hits the intended target, but blows away the rest of the cans off into the distance.
Kagome frowns. She hates that she inadvertently just littered.
Removing the second arrow from between her teeth, she points the arrow downward. The grass around the pierced can glows as it takes on a more vibrant color. Shards of grass curl around the can and sway to their own beat. Gojo walks forward towards the can and bends down.
"There's no trace of cursed energy." He sounds surprised. His fingers trail the length of the arrow all the way to the feather tips. Some sparks crackle from the small amount of curse energy he leaks out. Behind him, Kagome rolls her doe eyes. Sure, sure, it's fascinating to see the difference between their powers; but did he have to drop her coffee she gave him for safekeeping?
"Did you really have to waste my coffee?" She huffs.
The sun is just barely peeking over, though none of the rays penetrate the veil. It may as well be cloudy in clearing that he closed off for them.
"Huh? I'm surprised there's no bite to this." He stands, dusting his pants off. The sparks fizzle out.
She doesn't tell him it's because her powers have accepted him. For one, his ego is big enough, and she really doesn't need to listen to him prattle on about how close they are becoming. And two…. well, he just doesn't need to know.
"Why would there be? It hit its intended target." Kagome lifts her arm, covering her yawn. As soon as they get back to the apartment, she's crawling back into bed, and no amount of bribery can convince her otherwise.
"The sparks." He walks back over to her. "They didn't hurt." The underline question floats between them.
"I'll keep that in mind."
His eyes shift behind the blindfold as his lips twitch down, before breaking out into a full smile. Maybe it's the stillness of the veil, or maybe it's because she's immersed in everything Satoru, that she sees through the charade.
"Is that any way to talk to your boyfriend, Gome-chan?" He bends down so that his nose is just barely touching hers.
"Perhaps, you shouldn't have dragged me out here in my pajamas." She steps back. Her heart hammers in her chest, pumping all of her blood to her cheeks. "Are we done here?"
"You should burn off some of that excess energy. We could spar a little-"
"No."
"You're soooo mean!" He pouts, walking away to pick up the discarded thermos.
"Don't forget the cans, too."
He opens his mouth and promptly closes it at the fluctuating aura around her.
"Alright, alright." He throws the thermos into the backpack, all of the contents leaked out onto the grass. "As your sensei, I should be giving the orders." He tsks.
"I'm so not calling you that."
"Why not? Too kinky?" He pulls the arrow out of the can and puts both in the backpack.
"Those poor students," she mutters. "You're picking up your last student today, right?"
"Last one for the semester," he corrects, "I don't plan on retiring anytime soon." Gojo slips his arms through the straps.
He wears a lot of black, she notices. The material of his jacket stretches across his chest, highlighting the broadness of his shoulders. She averts her gaze, finding the stained glass safer to look at.
"I'd invite you, but I'm taking them out to exorcise some curses."
"That's fine, I have sleep to catch up on." The bow is heavy in her hand; the mention of curses and not demons reminds her that she's in unfamiliar territory–no matter how welcoming Satoru has been. "Don't forget to bring back some textbooks for me to look through."
"Still insisting on those? You have me." He plucks the arrow from her hand and then wraps an arm around her waist. "I am the strongest after all."
He likes touching her too. Her face heats at that realization.
"I need something to do while you're out working." She grips the bow tighter. "I'd like to know more about this world before I venture out."
"Venture out?" he asks, cheerfully. The smile is all teeth. The grip on her waist betrays the relaxed persona he's projecting.
"I can take care of myself." She follows along with the slow, even steps towards the edge of the veil.
"Don't go too far."
She looks up, tracing the sharp contours of his jawline, before resting on his clothed eyes.
"I won't."
A/N: Thank you all for the kind reviews and for being so understanding! The next chapter will be up Friday :)
