"Why are you always late?"
Satoru flashes a smile at Utahime and takes his seat against the wall. Why is it there are never any cushions in these meeting rooms? Yaga must pick these rooms out to be as uncomfortable as possible, so the meetings go fast. "I'm here, aren't I? Real question is why are you two here?" He gets the sorcerers employed for Jujutsu High, but why is the Tokyo school here? Didn't they just leave? Frankly, he's sick of seeing Gakuganji's face.
"I called them here because the blackouts last night also reached Kyoto." Yaga picks up his cup and takes a drink of what Satoru assumes to be tea. Or maybe sake. Who knows.
"No shit?" Satoru chuckles. "That's wild. It got that far?" He can't wait to tell Kagome.
"This is not funny," Utahime says between clenched teeth. "Whatever curse or curse user that caused that last night is strong. Too strong. It was not the power grid failing."
"At least," Yaga interjects, "That's what the civilians have been told so they don't freak out. That Tokyo and the other cities were testing out the power grid and made a mistake. It simply took them a while to fix the oversight." Yaga blows out a breath. "Did you check it out?"
"... Check what out?"
"The influx of cursed energy," Gakuganji says. "Something that strong must be a special grade. It had to be a curse, then."
Satoru clucks his tongue. Utahime fidgets with her fingers. He frowns. Is she seriously freaked out by this? "So, what's the plan? You want me to find the cause of the blackouts and then what? What if it is a sorcerer?"
"Then we need to apprehend them and bring them in for questioning. Make sure they aren't up to no good," Yaga says. "And stop grinning so damn much. What the hell are you so happy about?" Yaga makes a grand sweeping motion with his arm. "Because of the idea of another stronger sorcerer?"
"Nah." Satoru interlocks his fingers and stretches his arms out. "No need to go looking for the source. I know who did it."
"Was it that woman of yours?" Gakuganji asks sharply.
Satoru grins, flashing his teeth. "Kagome may have been a catalyst." He pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue. "But the cursed energy was all me."
"... How was she a catalyst if the cause was you?" Utahime scratches her cheek and gives him a befuddled expression. Shoko snorts next to him and shakes her head.
"You really made it everyone's business?" Shoko says, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
"I mean...it's not like I meant to do it. Shit just happened." He swipes his tongue over his teeth, trying his best to keep the grin off his face, but he can't. That energy massage was something else. At least they know now that the blackouts only happen when she gives him a massage. Satoru covers his mouth with his hand and turns his head to the side. Damn. Now he's thinking about earlier in the alley. She wanted to suck him off, but he didn't want her squatting so close to the ground, so they improvised with him, holding her upside down instead.
He should buy her a truckload of skirts and dresses to wear.
Utahime looks to Shoko and then at Yaga. "I don't... I don't understand?" She looks at Mei Mei, who giggles.
"Satoru was having sex," Yaga deadpans. "Explains that shit-eating grin of yours." He stands and grabs his drink. "And stop smiling so damn much," he gripes. "Unbelievable."
"You're disgusting," Utahime exclaims. "There's no way sex is that good, that it causes two blackouts."
"I mean, I caused more than two. If it reached Kyoto, then it reached the other cities too." Satoru bites his tongue, but his face hurts from grinning so much. Just thinking about Kagome makes him all giddy and shit. Is it lunchtime yet? Man, it hasn't been an hour, and he already misses Kagome.
"Disgusting."
Satoru shrugs. "Not like your opinion matters. So, we good here?"
Utahime splutters and clenches her fists. Gakuganji holds out a hand, cutting off her retort. "What kind of person makes you, of all sorcerers, lose control?"
"Ummm... I'm not sharing sex tips. Aren't you a little old?"
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING!"
"Pfft. Whatever. Either way, I ain't got anything else to add." Satoru stands and stretches his arms above his head. "Go back to Kyoto." He heads out of the room with Shoko hot on his heels. Satoru waits until they are a good distance away and then stops to address her. "What is it?"
"Are you kidding me?" She fishes out a lighter and lights the cigarette. "You bring her—"
"Kagome."
"Kagome," Shoko says, tightly. "You bring Kagome around everyone else, but I don't get to meet her?"
Satoru sighs. "Well, we can't do it tonight. We have plans. Family plans. It's not my fault your ass is slow."
Shoko growls in the back of her throat. "If I could, I would choke you."
"Pfft." Satoru laughs. "Even if I turned off infinity, you're too short to reach."
"Oh, fuck you."
Satoru pulls out his phone and huffs. Why isn't it lunchtime yet? "Maybe tomorrow you could come over for dinner or something. How's Tsumiki doing, by the way? I've reached out, but she says she's fine, but I don't know if I believe that." Satoru slides his phone back into his pocket. He's on his own today as far as getting around to his missions. The first years get Ijichi today.
"Actually, she is fine. More than fine. Gave her the green light to go back home, but I don't want her going back to school just yet. Physically she is fine, but she could be overwhelmed if she starts school back up right away." Shoko blows out the smoke. "You know, Kagome would make a great healer. I couldn't even heal Tsumiki, and she did it in an afternoon. Why are you making that face?"
"I'm not making any kind of face," he retorts, resuming his strides down the steps. "You seriously following me?" Doesn't she have work to do? He has work to do. The more missions he gets done now, the more time he can spend at lunch with Kagome and Koushi. His fingers twitch, so he stuffs them in his pockets. Kagome said she was going to show him something later.
Demons.
Those don't exist, but he is curious to see what she comes up with. Maybe a powerful curse?
"Why can't she be a healer here? You know how lacking we are."
"Yeah, you should get good," he replies absently.
"I'm going to strangle you."
"You can try," he sings songs. "It's the higher-ups I don't trust." He slows down so Shoko can catch up. "When Kagome came here the other day, she showed off some shikigami skills." He pauses at Shoko's nod. Right, someone probably filled her in. "And right after that, someone tried to pull a hit on her. Maybe the dude was telling the truth about not looking for trouble, but he also went after her, anyway."
"Back up... what?"
"Kami, Shoko, keep up. Kagome went with me on a mission the other night and a curse user was there. Not sure if the bounty is to take her alive or not, but it's out there. I don't want her under the higher-up's noses any more than she already is. Couldn't get him to talk, so I killed him to send a message."
"I want to say she'd be too valuable as a healer... but with her being attached to you and birthing another six eyes and limitless user..." Shoko blows out a breath and then takes another drag of the cigarette. "Yeah, guess it's best not to." She cuts her eyes at him. "Though you can admit it. You just like her being at home, which is odd to me. Thought you wanted strong allies."
Satoru wrinkles his nose. "I do want strong allies and I also like knowing my wife is at home, safe."
"You aren't married, right?"
"Not yet. I'm getting the ring custom-made, but it's a given. Just a matter of when." He presses his lips together. "You think she would want it before she starts showing?"
"... She's pregnant?"
"I mean, I hope so." The amount of times he came in her last night, she should be.
"Dear Kami." Shoko puts her cigarette out on the back of her hand. "If you two have any more like Koushi, the higher-ups may actually fall over dead."
Satoru looks up at the sky and smiles. "That would be wonderful."
"Why am I here?" Megumi asks. Satoru rolls his eyes behind the blindfold and claps Megumi on the back.
"Because it's a family lunch, and I asked Kagome if she could show you some shikigami techniques. She's the strongest user I know."
Megumi blinks. "Kagome-san? I heard from the others that she made one that looked like you... but I have ten shadows. It's a little different."
"Not that much. I'm sure you can learn something." Satoru opens the door and slides his shoes off. Ryu's loud voice booms throughout the house, followed by Himari's laughter. They round the corner to the kitchen where Ryu is boasting about some great feats and juggling the kitchen knives, while the old man stares on in boredom. "Uh? What are you doing?"
"SATORU MY FAVORITE NEPHEW!" Ryu collects the knives and sets them down on the counter. He beams at Satoru and plants his hands on his hips. He's wearing... jeans. Since when does Ryu dress down and wear actual jeans and a casual shirt?
"I'm your only nephew."
"THAT'S WHAT I SAID!"
"Stop yelling," Father complains. "No one even invited you." He rolls his eyes. Himari laughs and places a hand on his arm. Satoru zeros in on the movement. The hell? Kagome makes a face and jerks her head towards Himari and his father. Himari moves her hand, only for the old man to grab it and place it on his chest.
Satoru clucks his tongue. He just lost his appetite.
Kagome shakes her head and bounces Koushi. She walks over to him, and he immediately wraps his arms around her, drawing her and Koushi in for a hug. "Those two are really hitting it off," she whispers.
"It's a little revolting." Damn, she looks really good in her priestess getup.
Kagome exhales. "Be nice." She turns to look at Megumi. "Hi, Megumi. I'm glad you could join us. Lunch isn't quite ready yet, but Satoru told me you're a shikigami user?"
Megumi nods, though he takes a slight step back. Satoru stifles a laugh. Megumi is still wary of a baby?
"Okay, great. Satoru, you and I need to head out real quick, but I figured while Satoru and I are gone, Megumi, you could practice with one of mine." She purses her lips together. "Scratch that. I'll just give you one."
"Give him what?" Satoru asks.
"A shikigami, of course. You're family and I haven't given you a welcoming gift yet," Kagome continues, gently pushing Koushi into Satou's arms.
"... You can do that?" Megumi blinks. "Do you mean like you have a talisman?"
Kagome shakes her head. "No, nothing like that. Here, hold out your hands."
Megumi shoots him a look but holds out his hands. Kagome holds her out in front of her. There's an influx of energy. Ryu quiets down for once and Koushi turns his head to stare at Kagome and Megumi. Satoru chews on his tongue. Is that an egg?
"Uh, Kagome-san? I don't—"
Crack.
"It's a gift. Though I don't know what will come out of it."
Megumi stares at the brown and white egg in his hands. A head pops out of the top. Koushi lets out a stream of giggles. Satoru leans over to the side and stares at the cat shikigami. It's small and doesn't look like much... but he moves his face closer.
"It's a baby," Kagome explains. "But it should grow in power relative to you, since it imprinted."
Megumi's eyes widen. The cat shakes off the rest of the shell and then jumps into Megumi's shadow. Satoru turns his head at Kagome. When he asked her to help Megumi, his mind didn't even entertain the notion of her gifting a shikigami. This is... for once, he is at a loss for words.
"THAT'S MY FAVORITE NIECE!"
Kagome chortles. "I'm glad your opinion of me has improved." She looks over her shoulder. "Satoru and I will be right back. Don't eat without us." She smiles at him and motions for him to follow. "Megumi, make yourself comfortable."
Satoru snorts. Megumi sits down at the table with the old man and Himari, and summons the cat shikigami from his shadows. It prances around on the table and holds out a paw at Himari. Satoru shakes his head and then follows Kagome out of the house. "Where's Gramps?"
"Oh, he's still talking to some people. I helped with the blessings earlier." Kagome leads them to a... well house. The hairs on his neck raise. Something isn't right about this well. It doesn't feel cursed, though. Kagome grabs a big ass yellow bag and slides it on. It's bigger than her.
"What's in the bag?"
"Oh, I got some gifts for Sango and the others."
"... Sango?" Satoru hums and rocks Koushi. "Baby, we're in a well house."
Kagome rolls her eyes. "I know that. You wanted to see demons, so I'm going to show you some. However, Sango isn't a demon. She's human." Kagome frowns. "Hopefully she's still alive." She perks up and holds out her hand. "Come on. You need to be holding on to me when we go down the well, so the magic works. I already undid the seal earlier."
Satoru shifts Koushi to one arm and takes Kagome's hand with his free hand. "I just want you to know that this is super sketchy and I must be in love with you to be jumping down a dark well to potentially see actual demons."
"It hasn't even been a month." Kagome pauses. "I'm sure it's just infatuation."
"Ehh, I don't think infatuation feels like this." He peers down at the well. "Would it be better for you to drop the bag and then I just carry you and Koushi instead?"
Kagome hums, pulling her hand away to do just that. "I would usually travel alone." She drops the bag down the well and then holds out her hands for Koushi. Satoru waits until Koushi is settled and then picks Kagome up bridal style.
"So, I just jump, huh?"
"Scared?"
He snorts. "Not at all. Just never had the urge to jump down a well." He rolls his tongue over his teeth as he hops down. Blue lights up the area and the energy feels ancient. Satoru clucks his tongue. An open sky?
"Set us down and take the bag up. I'll hand Koushi out to you."
Satoru nods, though his mind is on high alert. He picks up the bag and hops out of the well. It's quiet. Too quiet. And far too open. He pulls his blindfold down and then turns back to the well to get Koushi. Kagome climbs up the ladder and then stretches her arms out in front of her.
"Ready?" She slides the bookbag over her shoulder. Satoru frowns. Where are they?
"I can carry that," he insists, but Kagome shakes her head and sidesteps him. "Kagome," he says, leveling her with a look. "Let me carry some of the burden."
She blinks. "Okay." She slides the bag off and sets it down on the grass. Satoru holds Koushi out to her and then slides the bag on.
"So, where are we going?"
"To the village." Kagome smiles down at Koushi, who looks around at his surroundings.
"Is this another world?" He walks next to her. His fingers flex at his sides.
"No, this is the feudal period," Kagome says casually. "You're sensing some low-level demons. They won't bother us."
Satoru glances at her from the corner of his eye. "Did you just say we time-traveled?" The energy coming from the forest sure doesn't feel like cursed energy either. Maybe she's telling the truth about demons.
Kagome hums.
Satoru opens his mouth and then frowns. That does not feel like a low-level demon. He steps in front of Kagome and Koushi. A man in a bright red outfit and white hair comes running towards them.
Dog ears?
"BITCH WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!"
Bitch?
"You want to repeat that?" Satoru growls out. Kagome touches his arms, but he's too pissed off right now. He doesn't know who this man—demon—is, but fuck him.
"That's InuYasha," Kagome says.
"... What?" Him? She married a demon?
"Who the fuck are you?" InuYasha snarls. "And why the fuck would you bring this fucker here?" InuYasha's eyes darken and his lips curl back at the sight of Koushi. "You fucking bitch," he spits out. "All this time you led me to believe you were infertile and yet you show up with a kid?" He barks out a laugh. "You were taking those damn herbs, huh? What, I wasn't good enough for you?"
"That's not..." Kagome falters, moving closer to Satoru's side.
"That's enough," Satoru says. "Apologize before I break your neck." He drops the bag behind him.
InuYasha scoffs and pulls out his sword. Satoru narrows his eyes. Not a cursed tool, but its energy is similar to InuYasha's, so maybe a demonic one then. "I'on know why you came here with his fucker, but after I kick his ass, you're going right back where you belong." InuYasha cracks his neck. "He can keep the kid."
Satoru narrows his eyes and flashes in front of InuYasha, punching him in the face. InuYasha swings, but the sword doesn't connect. He continues to swing at him while Satoru continues to throw punches. He should rip his head off. The sword glows red and with one hit; the sword nicks Satoru's arm. He grits his teeth and kicks InuYasha in the gut. InuYasha huffs as he jumps back. His fingers tighten on the hilt and when he swings the sword, the wind picks up... and Satoru's heart drops.
That fucking idiot!
He turns and rushes over to Kagome and Koushi, gathering them in his arms. The attack leaves three long cracks in the ground, where Kagome and Koushi were just at. Thank Kami, that attack was slow or else... Satoru squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. He doesn't want to dwell on it.
"Shit! Kagome, are you okay?"
"Don't you fucking address her," Satoru bites out.
Koushi sniffs and then cries. Satoru blinks. Crap. All this time, and he's never heard Koushi cry before.
"InuYasha, sit," Kagome says.
There's a thud followed by a yell. Koushi stops crying. Satoru turns his head and stares at the spot where InuYasha was at.
"You can put me down now," Kagome says, but Satoru shakes his head. He could have lost them. "Okay, but we still need the bag." Satoru glances back.
"Do you have a binding vow on that bag?"
"A what?"
"Never mind." He shifts Kagome in his arms and uses blue to attract the bag to him.
"Oi!" InuYasha climbs out of the crater. "I'm not done talking to you."
"Sit." Kagome sighs. "Just go straight and we should reach the village. There's someone there I want you to meet."
Satoru nods, not trusting himself. His body screams at him to finish the job. He pauses and turns to look at the crater. "Koushi, red."
Koushi blinks and then holds out his hands in front of him. The red is huge and far from precise, but it hits InuYasha right as he climbs out to the crater and sends him flying a few feet back. Koushi laughs and claps his hands.
Satoru smiles. "That's my boy."
A/N: Happy Fri-yay. I listened to the new Megan thee Stallion song and I'm so happy she was able to get Yuji's VA to do the intro lol.
This meeting actually happened way earlier than I planned, but as usual, I plan and the characters throw my notes out the window. There will probably be another fight before they leave because Satoru is itching to do some permanent damage and InuYasha is pissed that Kagome showed up with someone else.
Kagome didn't react to 'bitch' because InuYasha said it a lot over the years and he's a dog demon, so it's harsh to human ears but not so harsh to demon ears.
We'll probably also get another How To Tame Side Story. Main story hasn't been updating as frequently because I've been trying to see where the manga is going and how much of the 'canon' I want to throw out or keep lol.
Take care of yourselves! Get some rest and I hope you have an awesome weekend.