Gojo Satoru is not pouting. He is simply watching Nanami's interaction with Kagome with a concerned expression. That's it. Nothing more. He's concerned for his fellow sorcerer, and he is not pissed that they had to come back to the campus because Shoko sucks at her job.
It's fine. No, really, it is. There is nothing more that he would rather do than to come back to campus with his family to help his students and coworker in their time of need. But would it have killed Shoko to turn the temperature up a tad? This examination room is always so damn cold, and the bright lights overhead do not help. He would much rather be at home on the couch, relaxing with his family.
"Satoru," Kagome says with a huff. "If you're going to pout, go to the corner."
"I'm not pouting," he grumbles. "You were supposed to have the day off and Shoko can't even do one measly fix." Satoru bounces Koushi, who stares up at Shippo. "This is work." He's got some missions he pushed back until tomorrow for this, but those are long, ongoing missions, anyway.
"It's really not," Kagome says as she places a hand on Nanami. "This won't take long. I'll just undo it."
Nanami nods and clenches his fists. His legs dangle over the edge of the examination table. "Thank you, Kagome-san. It was interesting doing my missions today with shorter limbs." Nanami glances at Satoru and then looks away. "Ieiri tried her best, but this seems to be more advanced than anyone expected."
"That's one way of putting it," Shoko chimes in. "Sorry, I've never come across anything like it. Not surprised that it's Gojo's kid that did it." She shrugs and then peers over Kagome's shoulder. "So, what are you going to do? Another energy massage?"
Satoru grits his teeth. Yeah, Shoko and Ijichi weren't affected by the energy massage like he was, but that doesn't mean he likes it. Sue him, he doesn't enjoy sharing and he will not apologize for it.
Kagome is his.
He is hers.
And he wants to hoard those massages for himself.
"Energy massage?" Nanami asks.
"No, I'm not doing that." Kagome shakes her head. The area between her palm and Nanami's shoulder glows pink. "Speaking of which, how are you feeling?"
"Oh, I feel so much lighter! Healing the others didn't take nearly as long this time, and I made more progress with my research. Though I was bummed I couldn't help Nanami, Yuta, and Panda."
Satoru rolls his eyes. They could have waited until morning. So, what if that meant Yuta having to sleep outside? He's a freaking sorcerer. Sometimes you get put in shitty situations. "This really wasn't an emergency." It could have waited until morning or tomorrow evening. Yuta is a special grade. He would have survived.
Kagome takes a step back right as Nanami returns to his normal self. The clothes rip at the seams, but Nanami smiles despite the indecency of it. Does he have no shame? Yeah, the outfit Shippo gave him was a bit much, but when Nanami changed said clothes, he couldn't have picked something in a larger size for when he changed back? Or bring a change with him? It should have been common sense to know that baggy pants or even sweats would have been much better than the tight jeans Nanami changed into.
He can see skin! Nanami looks like a pathetic Hulk wannabe with his ripped clothes and biceps out. Does no one think of the children?
"So, Yuta and Panda are outside?"
"... Yes. How did you fix him so fast?" Shoko thrusts a hand out and grabs Nanami's chin. She drops her hand and stares at Kagome in wonderment.
Kagome motions with her hands. "You just do this." She rotates her wrist and makes a circle with her finger. "And then you're done. You don't need a lot of energy. Just touch and dispel. Easy peasy."
Shoko blinks. "That's... okay."
"A beautiful explanation," Satoru says. "Easy peasy. Why couldn't you do it?"
"Kagome, how much do you care for him? Because I could choke him right now and you'd probably get the insurance money."
"The only one that can choke me is Kagome." He scoffs. Shoko must be getting senile with age because she keeps making references to choking him when she knows she can't reach his neck since she's short and she can't get through infinity.
"Yeah, you want me to choke you?" Kagome laughs.
Satoru pauses. "I wasn't... we should take care of Yuta and Panda so we can get the boys to bed." Damn now he's thinking it, and he wasn't thinking it, but now it's in his mind and he can't stop the visuals from flashing through his thoughts.
"Papa, you're a perv," Shippo whispers.
"I'll get you whatever you want tomorrow if you go to bed early."
"Whatever I want?"
"Satoru." Kagome crosses her arms.
"I'm innocent." Damn, her tits look nice. How long has it been since he last saw them? Years? Months? Far too long.
"This is disturbing," Shoko says. She shudders and rubs her hands up and down her arms. "Who are you?"
"Satoru is always like this," Kagome points out.
"Yeah, I'm thinking he's like that with his family, then. Not used to seeing this side of him." Shoko rubs her forehead. "I see why he kept you and the boys hidden for so long. Though I'm a little annoyed because you're so amazing. Anytime you want to pop in and get a break from him, you are more than welcome. I would love the company."
Kagome smiles, but Satoru sees right through it. Shoko has thrown little jabs here and there since lunch. Kagome just isn't used to that dynamic. It's kind of cute how protective she gets.
"Alright, I'm a complex person," he sighs. "I'm serious about the kids getting ready for bed." Satoru shifts Koushi to one arm and places his other hand on Kagome's back. "Let's go before Shoko tries to keep you here." He doesn't look back as he leads Kagome out of Shoko's exam room and to the field where Panda lies next to Yuta. "WOW, you two really couldn't figure it out?"
Yuta perks up. "Kagome-san! Are you able to fix this?"
"Yep!" Kagome fixes Yuta and Panda as quickly as she helped Nanami. Koushi turns his head and watches as Panda changes back to his normal self, and Yuta is finally free from the boulder. "Now, you two have got to be careful with Shippo. He's a bit of a trickster."
Yuta hunches his shoulders and rubs the back of his head. "He's definitely Gojo-sensei's kid. We don't mind if it helps him to develop his skills. Can't say I know any sorcerers as strong as him at this age."
Kagome chuckles. "You're a good sport about it."
Yuta blushes and Satoru counts to ten.
"The children are tired," Satoru says. "So tired they might get cranky." And if he doesn't get to cuddle up to Kagome soon, he'll get cranky.
Kagome gives him a look. "Do you need me to put you to bed?"
"Yes."
Shippo sighs. "I want to go to an a-mu-se-me-nt park."
"I'll look up tickets when we get home." Kagome tucks her hair back. "We can do something in the evening so Daddy can come too."
Satoru looks up at the sky. She's doing this on purpose. Has to be. Offers to choke him, put it on him until he passes out, and now she's calling him daddy. Kagome is teasing him. Has to be.
"That sounds like fun," Yuta says.
"Did you want to come?" Kagome asks. Satoru squints at Yuta, though his student can't tell because of the blindfold.
Yuta holds his hands up. "I wouldn't want to impose."
"Have you been to one?"
"Uh...no." Yuta frowns. Panda pats his shoulder. "My parents were afraid of me because of Rika. She's uh, a shikigami now, but before she was a curse that was attached to me. I didn't go anywhere but home and school."
Oh no.
"Satoru—"
"Just invite everyone, then. You good with that Shippo?" Of course, Kagome wants to bring everyone along now. Not that he really minds since the students don't get that many chances to be kids, but more people mean less time he can... wait. Could he trust the students to babysit?
Ehhh, on second thought, nah.
"More people to play tricks on... I mean, more people to play with. I LOVE Papa's students. They are so much fun, and I learn so much about jujutsu with them."
"I can't go though," Panda says. "I'm a panda."
"You cannot be serious," Shippo exclaims. "Do you know who I am?"
"Uh, Shippo?"
"Gojo. Gojo Shippo. There is nothing I cannot do. Your form is nothing more than child's play to the great Shippo." Shippo crackles, which sets off a round of giggles from Koushi. Satoru bites back a smirk.
"Wait. What about our missions?" Yuta's shoulders drop. "We can't all go."
"I'll handle it," Satoru says. "Man, ya'll are getting spoiled these days." He holds out a hand for Kagome. "Just don't be late or I will leave ya'll behind."
"And I'll come up with the perfect look," Shippo chirps. Panda takes a step back. "Oh, come on, don't cha trust me?"
"NO!"
"Rude."
Kagome shakes her head. "Shippo will be on his best behavior tomorrow. It'll be fun." She takes his hand and smiles at Koushi. "You are looking pretty sleepy. Guess you've had a big day," she coos. Satoru leads them back to the car. The drive home is animated with Shippo in the backseat, entertaining Koushi so he doesn't fall asleep before they get home. Satoru struggles with keeping his hands on the wheel when he really wants to reach over and touch Kagome.
Somehow, he survives. Barely. Shippo drops his illusion once the front door is shut. He rushes to the kitchen, probably in search of snacks, though they ate before heading over to the school. Kagome wasn't kidding when she said Shippo needed more nutrients than them.
"I can't believe he's still hungry," Kagome comments as she settles down on the couch and nurses Koushi.
"Good thing we'll have two kitchens and a half. I sign the paperwork early on Thursday, so we could get movers as soon as the paperwork is done." He sits next to her and throws an arm over the back of the couch.
"Probably move on Friday, then. I'll want to clean the house before we bring in furniture."
"You?"
"Well, who else?"
"A cleaning company. Plus, we still gotta get stuff for the house as well as pack up what we have here... I'll ask Mei Mei. She's got some moving company she always uses that's pretty fast."
Shippo walks out with an arm full of snacks and juice. He plops down on the floor in front of the TV. "One game?" His tail swishes behind him.
Kagome wrinkles her nose. "One game and then you're going to bed. Tomorrow we'll go look around for bedroom stuff, so you'll be with me."
"And the a-mu-se-me-nt park," Shippo says. "I want to ride all the rides like in the movies." He stands and turns on the TV and then his console.
Kagome blows out a breath. "Oh, I forgot. I booked another massage for me and Ayumi in two weeks." She bites her lip. "Sorry, I got caught up."
Satoru yawns as he pulls the blindfold off. "What are you apologizing for? You don't have to consult with me." He pokes her cheek with his finger and then squeezes her cheek. "You didn't look at the account balance, huh?"
Kagome pouts. "I'll do it tomorrow so I can come up with a budget. Shippo would try to buy everything."
"Papa said I could have whatever I wanted," Shippo says.
"About that. How long are you going to play this game?" He places his arm around Kagome's shoulder. His fingers brush across the top of her breast.
Smack!
Satoru pauses. Kagome laughs. And Koushi glares at him.
"Koushi, you serious right now?" Satoru moves his arm and then places his hand on Kagome's breast. Koushi looks at his hand and then kicks at him. "WOW, I can't touch Mommy now?"
"He said hands off his food," Shippo says, not even bothering to look back.
"How do you know what he said?" Satoru huffs and moves his hand.
"I'm his brother. You shouldn't try to take his food."
Satoru stares at the back of Shippo's head and then drags his hand down his face. "I wasn't trying to take his food," he mumbles.
Thursday cannot come soon enough.
A/N: I got a new HVAC! Sorry in advance if updates are not as frequent. Last week was a LONG week with the heat and the kid starting kindergarten. Plus, I now have my niece six days out of the week for who knows how long.
"When are the elders meeting Shippo and Koushi?" - Satoru doesn't plan to have them meet the kids until the party. Koushi's 100-day celebration will be combined with welcoming Shippo.
"Are you in the facebook book groups?" - Nope, I actually hang out in the author groups for my contemporary stuff. But I'm glad that the fics hit some of the major checklists.
Take care! Stay cool and get plenty of rest. I will do my best to update at least once a week. Have a great week!