#manga spoilers for chapter 221 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

arminsumi · 1 year

Note

First request ever: Can you make a story about Gojo, where their both in a relationship but gojo had to end it because he was afraid that she would be in danger?

Thank you! Keep up the good work, I love your stories!!!

LET ME MARRY YOU

↳ GOJO さとる + fem!reader

The risk of dating you his too much for him to handle, so he breaks it off, only for him to come back to your doorstep years later and ask: "Let me marry you."

Note : istg each time i edited this... the wordcount grew lol. i hope u enjoyyy 🥹💗 tysm for enjoying my work it means everything

Warnings : angst -> fluff (?) -> happy ending trust me, Shibuya arc spoilers (Ep 9), manga spoilers (chapter 221)

🍒 More from Jay : Gojo works / Gojo fave works / JJK works / oct. reqs open

The risk of dating you is thrilling when Satoru's just a teenager in puppy love. But as he grows older, and heads into those dreaded 20s, the risk makes him more and more nervous.

What if something happens to you?

He presses kiss after kiss to your forehead and feels his chest tremble, feels his lips quiver, as he refrains from telling you the truth about the Jujutsu world. Satoru just can't do it.

There are so many instances of him saving you from curses that you're oblivious about. He just smiles strangely, and you wonder why he looks like he's just seen a ghost. Because he has, those pretty eyes see ghosts. But those pretty eyes also see you, "What am I looking at?" he responds after you ask why he's looking at you so tenderly, "I'm looking at my future wife." he flirts just to fluster you.

That's at the cafe, when things are still simple. He keeps thinking to himself, as he lays with you in bed some nights;

I want to marry you.

I'm going to marry you.

Please let me be your husband one day.

As if he's trying to manifest it.

Everything is okay-ish... until he gets pangs of fright when your name starts to be known outside of his closed circle of friends.

It's October 11th.

Gojo Satoru breaks up with you.

He leads you to believe that the two of you are just "right person, wrong time". It all hurts an incomprehensible amount for him, to finally cut the string that tethers the two of you together.

He sits on the stairs, head in his hands, mourning.

He starts many mornings with crying spells that last until midday.

He destroys evidence of you and him. In case anyone ever finds it and thus finds your apartment, or work, or college... or anything.

But he can't part with a very special photo. It's you and him in Okinawa, sharing a cheesy kiss at the beach. In the moment this photo was captured, Gojo remembers having whispered some dirty joke in your ear and that's why you smiled so big into his kiss.

He drifts to sleep to the lullaby lovesongs that defined your love.

Years pass, he refuses to even talk to you. The heartbreak worsens with time, he laughs when he realizes that on his 27th birthday.

Isn't time supposed to heal all wounds? Someone said that to him once. Well, they must have been lying without realizing it.

The day Gojo Satoru is sealed, he looks into Suguru's eyes, and remembers you through them. When he resides in that awful prison realm, he only thinks of you you you you you you you oh god he misses you so much that it feels like the very thought of your smile stabs his chest. Every memory is painful. Every flashback puts one more crack in his heart.

"Can't I ever catch a break...?" He laughs to himself, chattering skeletons making their eerie symphony around him.

He thinks. Ponders. Wonders. Broods. Daydreams. All about you. Always about you. Never anything else. Just his first love, from the late spring of his 17th year.

His earthly goddess.

The purpose of his benevolent actions.

He cries. And sobs. And weeps. Because no one can hear him but the skeletons and he's sure they don't mind the sight or sound of a 27 man howling in pain over a lost lover.

It's not just your relationship that he's mourning. But the fact he can't feel you in this cube... that he can't feel your presence in the world... that's worse than the heartbreak. At least through all these years, he's been able to sense your existence. Feel the subtle ripples of your soul no matter how distant you are; you'd be stood in a coffee shop, he'd be at Jujutsu High teaching, and yet feeling you.

Because as he promised to you at 17, "Half my soul is yours. And half your soul is mine. I'll always be with you even if I'm not there."

He has the biggest breakdown of his life in that little cramped suffocating claustrophobic eerie creepy box.

It's 19 days later. He's out. He's back in the world. And he feels the sense of you, your existence, swelling in his chest, tickling his mind, prodding his heart.

"Gojo sensei, where are you headed?"

"I'm gonna go find my other half." he says cryptically.

It's a stark bright day.

Gojo Satoru knocks at your apartment door.

You open it.

He looks at you, and you look at him.

"Hi."

"...hey...? Wow. Haha... you grew into your features, huh?"

Your voice fills his heart with life.

"You too... glad you still live in the same place... I was worried you might have moved out..."

"... Ah, Satoru, you'd be able to find me no matter what corner of the world I resided in."

Your laugh fills his mind with pleasant memories.

There's an a magnetism between you and him just like there always used to be. It feels like two magnets connecting at last, after feeling the distant attraction throughout all these years of distance.

"You're right." Satoru says after a silence of just staring into your eyes.

"I'll always find my way home."

A silence ensues after he says this.

"...haha... don't cry... or I'll cry..."

"... Satoru... I thought of you every day after you left me at the station."

"... me too."

"... why did you leave?"

He stares at you.

"... I was scared of you being in danger."

He gulps.

"Me? In danger? But you're the strongest, why would it matter."

Oh god that's right. You said it then when you were 17, "You're the strongest" and he carried that title with him from then. And now you've said it again. He's reminded. He feels a bit stupid. A bit ridiculous. A bit...

"You're right..." he chokes up. "I am. I could have protected you I guess..."

"... yeah, duh."

He smiles meekly.

It was more complicated than that, sweetheart. But I won't tell you.

He hesitates. He contemplates.

"I have to tell you everything... will you promise to believe everything I say even if it sounds insane?"

"Of course. What is it?"

He inhales deeply. And instead of blurting out his whole life story of being a sorcerer in the Jujutsu world, he just leans in and kisses you hard and truthfully. Cups your cheeks. Closes his eyes. Tastes you like a sweet from his childhood that he hasn't had for years. Presses to you. Takes in your scent.

Yeah yeah... he'll tell you everything in a minute.

But for now just let him kiss you until he runs out of breath.

Let him just...

"Hey..." he pulls away, gasping, "Let me marry you."

"Haha, Satoru..." you take it as a joke and laugh, because it sounds as bizarre and unexpected as one. Then you realize there's that serious look on his face. "... Satoru?"

"Can I?"

"... what?"

"Can I please?"

"... huh??"

"Can I marry you, please?"

He looks at you and waits for your answer. His poor heart. It's palpitating. His whole chest cavity inspires with love for you. This man that you haven't seen in years has just asked if you'll let him marry you — with very specific wording.

Can he? Will you let him?

It's funny in a way, because you think to yourself; this is such a Satoru thing to do... show up unannounced years later on your doorstep and ask for your hand in marriage as if no time has passed, as if you know the full story.

"Satoru... what happened to you throughout these years for you to come back to me and ask for my hand in marriage?" you ask, genuinely baffled.

He swallows slowly. "I know I sound like I've lost my mind. But I promise I haven't."

"That's hard to believe. The Satoru I remember was always on the brink of mania. A bit insane but not quite."

You make him laugh. "Yeah..."

"So are you asking to marry me out of insanity?"

"No."

"Well alright then. I guess I'll marry you."

You make him laugh again, with that funny tone. He hasn't laughed genuinely in years... it's always been that plastic laugh. But this is his genuine laugh. Silky and quiet. The opposite of his demeanor.

"I guess I should be explaining everything to you properly... before I ask you something like that."

"You're damn right..."

"... don't scold me too hard when I tell you all the reasons I left. Or, if you do, then at least hold me while you scold me. And run your fingers through my hair like you used to."

"Satoru."

"Yes?"

His heart throbs. He looks at you.

"Stop standing at the doorway and come inside."

"Oh."

You sigh. He smiles. Then he bows his head so it doesn't hit the top of the doorframe. Damn tiny Tokyo apartments. Your archway always had it out for the crown of his head. You laugh when he bumps into it just like he always used to.

So the two of you sit down and just talk. And talk. Maybe cry a bit. Actually, you cry a lot. And he holds you. And he says he's sorry. He says sorry over and over, as if the word is a bandage he's trying to wrap around all your heartbreak wounds that he caused.

"I'm sorry."

Satoru's apologies aren't easy to come by, and when you receive them, they nurse your heart. It's the gentleness with which he says it, and earnest too. Each successive sorry means more than the last.

"My angel..."

When you call him this after he vents to you about his time in the Prison Realm, and his overwhelming duty of being the strongest, he breaks down completely and just weeps in your arms.

He sobs like you've never heard him sob before, like a dog.

Finally. At least for a moment. He could be weak. Let down his guard. Be raw. Be emotional. Not a teacher. Not a sorcerer. Just your boy. Your Satoru.

Your consolation is all he wanted throughout these years. He looks up at you, eyes red and sore, nose sniffling, and stares at you like he can see your soul.

"...Satoru?"

"Marry me."

You chuckle again.

"If that will stop your tears..." you joke.

He sniffles loudly and swallows, composing himself.

"I thought about marrying you so much when we were together... 'n I tried so hard to bite my tongue when your name nearly rolled off it while talking to my students some days. I was always..."

On the verge of saying your name.

He sniffles long and hard and waits for your hand to weave into his hair.

"Will you think about it?"

"I will."

There's a silence. Satoru feels hopeful. He lays on your chest, arms around you like you're his whole world that he won't dare let go of again.

"There." you say with finality. "I thought about it. Let's get married."

"That took you, like, ten seconds."

You laugh with him. "Yeah... I already knew in my heart when you asked me at the doorway... you know... Satoru... it's funny. When you left, it felt like half my soul was gone. And when you knocked on my doorstep, it felt like I was whole again. Does that sound freaky, or does it tie into all this... Juju... Jujutsu stuff?"

He's silent.

"I have no idea."

"Wow. My future husband isn't knowledgeable at all." you joke.

His heart flutters at 'future husband'.

"Sorry." he says, smiling softly, "My mind is blank when your fingers are running through my hair."

The two of you go on and on, until you're laid in bed sleeping at each other's side. Resting. And god, did Gojo Satoru need a good rest.

In your arms, he's no longer an insomniac.

Do not plagiarize / repost / translate / copy layouts / etc.

Do not steal what I've worked hard to create.

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damn-stark · 7 months

Text

Chapter 27 The sun will shine on us again

Chapter 27 of Sugar

A/N- The girls are fighting!

Warning- Swearing, some angst, FLUFF, talks of death, cigarettes, spoilers!! long chapter, mc is a lil mean to someone…

Pairing- Choso x Gojo!fem-reader, Suguru Geto x Gojo!fem-reader

Takes place during- Chapter 220-221 of the manga

(Let me know if you want to be tagged)

————

There was a fragment in time as you were waking up that your mind got foggy and panic ran through you, making you believe that what you lived through last night was a beautiful dream, and the reality was that you were in bed alone and Choso was dead.

You don’t know why it suddenly bestowed upon you. Maybe it’s all this loss that’s heightening your fear of being alone or something because that panic blinded all your senses and snapped you to complete consciousness in a cold sweat.

Albeit rather than realizing you were in that in-between state of sleepy delusion and consciousness, that fear stuck with you and made you not want to look at your side out of fear that all you’ll see is a sunken spot.

However, you also knew that you had to snap out of it and face the truth, so you look over. And the moment you see Choso’s dark brown draped over his perfectly sculpted back, and notice his breaths moving his body you smile with relief and immediately drag yourself over to gently slide your hand around his back and hook your arm through his arm before you lay your head next to his neck.

You bask in his warmth and use that as a security blanket for your bare chest. You don’t know if he’s awake since you didn’t check but you still press a kiss on his nape and nuzzle your nose on the back of his neck, causing him to groan softly with satisfaction before he turns around and holds you against his chest instead.

“Is this okay?” He mutters in a sexy voice.

“Yes, it is,” you assure him softly even though last night—no, a couple of hours ago he never asked for permission to hold you in the most seductive positions. “How long have you been awake?” You query while you begin to caress his back with your nails, feeling the scratch marks you left him.

“Not long…I just wanted to let you sleep,” he says.

You grin and pull your head back, making him tilt his chin down to be able to look you in the eyes.

Now Instead of filling the silence with good mornings, you keep smiling at him and gently brush your finger over the mark on his nose, making him shiver, and causing a smile to twitch on his lips. While all you can think of is how happy you are, how full your heart feels, and it’s such an incredible feeling you’ve missed, you’ve been estranged for so long. You don’t want to be strangers again.

“Did I hurt you last night?” Choso asks with slight concern.

You giggle and shake your head whilst you slide your thumb to his cheek. “Only in the best way possible.”

Choso doesn’t understand you’re only teasing and his eyebrows furrow.

“No,” you quickly assure him. “You didn't hurt me. You were good. Which makes me doubt that it was your first time.”

Choso chuckles softly. “It was,” he quickly assures you as if he didn’t want you to be upset. “I swear.”

“I know I was just teasing,” you whisper before you pull down slightly and nuzzle your face against his chest to find comfort in the rhythm of his heart.

And as he feels the warmth radiating off your body, and the softness of your skin against his, he cups the back of your head and presses a kiss on the top of your head, triggering a question to pop up in your mind.

“Can I ask something since we did this and confessed and whatnot…what are we?” You ask and brush your fingers through his hair. “Is this exclusively an in-the-shadows kind of thing? Like, only sex, and kisses when no one is watching, or are we together, together, like, partners? Boyfriend and girlfriend or what?”

“I already told you what I want,” he explains right away with confidence. “You heard me. I don’t want to hide you, I want…to be partners, I want Yuji to know about us.”

You smile in admiration at the way he cares so much about letting his brother know about the changes in his life.

You were once like that with Satoru. You cared what he thought, you needed his opinion, and needed his approval in your big life choices.

Not so much anymore.

Not at all anymore.

“I want you to be mine and only mine,” he whispers against your head. “If that’s what you want.”

Before you give him your obvious answer you need to just warn him of one thing. “Look, Cho, I love you. I really, really do, but I also know that your life is new. I don’t want to hold you back from experiencing what the world has to offer and that means other people,” you share and pull back to face him and his forming perplexity.

“I’m not looking for something short, I’m not at that stage in my life anymore. It’s not what I want my daughter to see either…” you pause and lick your lips before you go on and make him grow worried. “So if this is going to happen it means you want to build a life with me and my daughter, if you think that you want to explore other things then we can say goodbye here.”

Choso grabs your face and pulls you to him to assert his wishes once again. “I want forever with you. I told you. Until my last breath and the last beat of my heart….”

You smile happily and he can’t help but mirror your expression.

“Do you want forever with me?” He asks vulnerably. “Even if I am what I am?”

You grin and cup his cheek. “I do. I want forever, even if you are what you are,” you finish in a whisper before you give him a slow and passionate kiss that he quickly returns at that same loving pace.

When he pulls back he keeps you close to the point you can still basically taste yourself on his breath after he gave into his wildest temptations in your night of passion.

“Do you think I should give something to Satori?” He asks timidly. “It's important to me that she likes me. I mean she’s probably going to hate me when you tell her about us because I’m not her father.”

You scoff softly. “Oh, my Cho, don’t worry,” you assure him, making his cheeks turn red at the sweet way that pet name rolled off your tongue—“she likes you, and yeah, it’s going to be weird for her seeing us together, but we have to give her time, okay? In the meantime just talk with her, try and join her when she’s doing what she likes. She likes being outside with the animals and harvesting the fruit, so just help her when she wants it. Just be there for her, show her you care about me and her and she’ll get to love you. Okay?”

Choso nods and tilts his head to kiss your palm.

You hum with pleasure and then can't help but share a concern you have. “Did you feel good last night, Cho? And don’t lie, it's okay if you didn’t.”

“I felt good,” he assures. “You were great. Beautiful.”

You don’t grow reassured instead you press him. “Don’t lie okay? Don’t be nice to me. Not about this.”

Choso grabs your chin and insists, “you made me feel incredible.” He laughs softly before he grows timid. “So much so that I want to feel myself inside you for the rest of my life.”

You avert your gaze and smile shyly. He notices and tilts your head up to take you in for a slow agonizing kiss that he only worsens by swiping his tongue over your bottom lip.

“Choso,” you whisper breathlessly in between the kiss. “If…you feel…that way then…maybe we should…go take a shower together.”

Choso pulls back and stares into your eyes with a tensionful stare before he smirks faintly. “Are you sure?”

“More than sure, let me just do something first,” you bring up before you climb out of bed and put your pajama pants on. When you look for your shirt you find it torn in half, so you instead use Choso’s and step out onto your balcony with your phone in hand.

And considering you were busy getting filled with dick and cum at night you never once thought about your phone. Which might’ve been a bad thing now that you see all the missed calls and messages from Shoko.

Shoko: Call me.

Shoko: It’s important, I won’t stop texting you until you answer.

Shoko: I know you’re not asleep.

And there’s a lot more urgent messages where that came from, so you finally call her. And on the third ring, she answers.

“I was calling you all night,” she greets you coldly.

You can’t help but smirk. “Sorry, I was…” you trail off and peek over your shoulder, catching Choso walking over to you with just his pajama pants on. “…busy,” you finish saying smugly.

“Ahuh,” Shoko understands what you meant so she lets you off easy. “Well then just get over here when you can, okay?”

You scoff and interject rapidly. “Hold on, you spammed my phone. What’s wrong? Are the students okay?”

Shoko sighs. “Well that’s what we need to talk about, just get here when you can—”

“Did someone—”

“No, no one died,” she cuts you off before you can panic. “Everyone’s alive and well, so don’t rush. Just know that you need to come.”

You sigh and hold more worry on your shoulders now than before. “All right. I’ll be there soon,” you assure her whilst Choso comes up from behind you and moves your hair aside to start kissing your neck.

“I’ll see you,” Shoko says before she hangs up, leaving you just concerned now.

“Something happened,” you tell Choso, causing him to pull away from you.

“Yuji?” He asks.

You turn and face him with that worry painted over your face. “No. She would’ve told me. Then again she didn’t tell me anything at all…but no, he’s okay.” You groan and drop your head on his shoulder. “I want this all to be over already. I hate all this worry.”

Choso wraps his arms around you and tries his best to assure you. “We’ll get your brother out and we’ll end this soon.”

You hum and then pull back to meet his gaze to try and push it all aside, for now, and be happy in this moment with your boyfriend.

“You ripped my shirt,” you tease him.

Choso looks you up and down and swallows thickly as his face grows red, and a bulge grows in his pants. “I…” he pauses and exhales deeply before meeting your eyes again. “I like you in mine,” he gets smug.

“Yeah,” you whisper seductively and press your hands on his chest to slowly drag them up to his neck. “You know I came outside to check the weather and decide what I should wear, but maybe now…I should wear this.”

Choso’s breath hitches and his bulge only hardens more.

“What do you think?” You ask him against his ear. “This? Or nothing?”

Choso grabs your hips and leans in to kiss you but you decide to be a tease and pull away.

“Tell me,” you roll out softly.

“I want…you to wear this…right now. I want to take a picture of you in my shirt so I can look at you when I can’t be with you,” he murmurs against your lips. “I want you.”

You smirk and walk past him, causing him to huff. When you reach the door you stop and peer back. “Let’s be productive and go to the bathroom. We can start there.”

Choso’s lips pull to a smirk as well before he catches up to you and hugs you from behind, making you laugh.

“I love you,” he says in your ear as he nuzzles his nose on your neck.

You walk him to the bathroom and say it back again and again; while you do it against the counter, in the shower as he holds you against the wall, and when you tell him a dirty joke in his ear when you’re drying off.

He could hear it a hundred more times in the span of a minute and never grow tired of hearing you telling him such passionate words. He could stare at your naked body all day, every day, and his desire and his awe will only heighten to new levels each time.

But he knew there were limits, so when you were changed and out of the privacy of the room, he held himself back to only pecks. And when Satori finally woke up and joined you downstairs he completely restrained himself to lingering stares and nonchalance since you had yet to tell your daughter about him and you.

“Satori,” you interject while you’re finishing your breakfast. “You’re going to be coming with me with the other sorcerers from now on, okay?”

Satori looks over at you as she chews and raises a dark brow. “Why? Why can’t I stay with Uncle Larue?”

You swallow thickly and avoid looking upset at the mere mention of his name. “Because I don’t want to risk Kenjaku coming to get you. It’s better if you’re with me.” You offer her a smile and she sighs.

“Fine, but I have to pack my stuff ‘cause I get bored,” she mumbles and pushes her empty plate away.

“Hm, we’re going to get some training in too, okay? And before you argue,” you cut her off as she was opening her mouth. “You’ll be training with Kirara and Kinji.”

Satori huffs. “Kinji is annoying. He always messes with me.”

You laugh softly. “He’s just teasing you.”

Satori suddenly sits up and looks at you curiously. “Will Fushiguro be there?”

Your smile widens and you shrug. “I think so. Why?” You tease.

Satori shrugs. “He’s nice and his dog is nice too.”

“What about Yuji?” Choso cuts in. “Do you like him?”

Satori glances at him and tilts her hand. “He’s loud when he’s with my uncle Satoru, and Kugisaki says it’s funny to tease him.” She smiles for a moment before she sinks her chair and then suddenly slides out to run away with an excuse over her shoulder. “I’ll be back.”

You watch her scurry away and then finish eating unbothered.

“I thought about something,” Choso brings up as he puts Satori’s empty plate over his. “About my brother's places in this life.”

You put the chopsticks down and slightly narrow your gaze with concern, noticing his eyes focus on the table and his eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly, but enough that his nose wrinkles. Meaning he was really thinking hard.

“What is it?” You press softly and lean over the table to take his hand.

Choso glances up at you with his eyes glossy and takes a deep breath to try and answer. However, before he can share what troubles him hurried footsteps echoing in the distance interrupt him before Satori enters the dining room, causing Choso to quickly pull his hand away so she wouldn’t see.

“Mommy,” Satori says out of breath, and clings onto your arm to whisper in your ear. “Can you help me?” She asks and lets you get a peek at a card that has a little red envelope attached to it. “Please?”

You giggle and whisper back. “He won’t bite. Just give it to him.”

Satori presses you with an anxious look and digs her little nails into your arm. “Please.”

“I'll go wash the dishes,” Choso interjects, making Satori’s eyes peel with panic.

“Wait,” you interrupt him and make him sit back down just as he was getting up. “Cho…” you roll out with a teasing smile. “Satori wants to give you something.”

Choso shifts in his seat and you see his own slight panic on his pale face.

“Go on, it’s not from me,” you encourage your daughter. “Hand it to him, I’ll be here.”

Satori lets out a deep breath and fiddles before she turns and looks at Choso shyly. “This is for you,” she says sweetly and hands him the letter. “From me.”

Choso glances at you unsure, so you assure him with a smile before you prop your elbows on the table and rest your chin on your hands to watch Choso open the card made of white construction paper, and red glittering letters that say ‘To Choso,” at the front.

And considering she didn’t want to show you what she had made for him, your curiosity gets the best of you and you can’t help but lean over to take a peek inside, seeing that Satori had drawn Choso on one side and her on the other. He had a drawn-on nonchalant face, which is super cute, and her portrait…well you couldn’t stop smiling as you notice how she drew herself smiling and had a speech bubble over her head that read, ‘Thank you for saving me! And thank you for saving my mom! I appreciate you!’

“Cute,” you compliment her as you poke her side, causing her to giggle and push your hand away.

Nevertheless, as Choso pulls a red and purple beaded bracelet out from the envelope you notice his eyes are once again getting glossy. But this time you see him smiling—or he’s trying, his lips are wobbling.

“Red is for your technique,” Satori points out. “And purple is because you wear…purple…” Satori trails off in a whisper as she notices the tears welling in his eyes, and slowly loses the smile that was peeking through as she was gaining confidence.

“I’m sorry,” she interjects in a shaky voice as she wraps her arms around your neck to find comfort from her growing shame.

“It’s okay, baby,” you assure her and caress the back of her head. “You didn’t make him sad, Choso just gets emotional that’s all. Those are happy tears.”

Satori loosens her grip around you and Choso wipes away his tears to try and comfort her. “Yeah, sorry. I just didn’t expect it…I love it. Thank you so much, Satori, and you’re welcome.”

Satori sighs with relief and lets you go. “Well that’s good,” she laughs breathlessly. “I thought I made you sad…I hope you like your bracelet, I made it.”

Choso smiles softly at her. “I do, I love it. I’ll wear it all the time. Thank you, Satori.”

And knowing him he probably won’t ever take it off.

“You're welcome,” she says back with a happy smile and then steps back. “Well, I’m going to go get ready now.”

“Yes,” you encourage her. “And then come find me so I can do your hair.”

Satori swings around harshly. “No! You do my hair all crooked!”

You pout and watch her leave. When she’s gone though can’t help but smile before you slide over and hug Choso from behind.

“I forgot to tell you,” you whisper as you press a kiss on the side of his side head. “Thank you for helping my little girl. Thank you.”

Choso reaches over and caresses your arm as he keeps looking at the letter Satori gave him.

“See,” you coo. “She likes you. Don’t worry, baby.”

Choso glances over at you as if what you just said is unbelievable. Which you find funny. He acts like he’s not deserving of the pet names.

“I’ll tell her today okay?” You let him know. “Maybe even before we leave.”

Choso presses a kiss on your arm and nods.

“Now what is it you were going to say?” You reel back to your previous topic before you got interrupted. “Something about your brothers?”

Choso shakes his head. “I’ll tell you later. Now I want to make sure if it’s okay that I give Tsukumo’s research to Yuji. She was your mentor and she was someone else's. I don't want to cause problems.”

You step back and start collecting the things off the table. “It’s okay, really. Aoi is okay with it, he’s like, delusional, actually, and thinks Itadori is his brother.” You snicker and peer back, catching Choso pouting slightly and looking perplexed.

“Why?” Choso mutters as he starts to help you clean up.

You shrug. “‘Cause they have the same type of women…I think. Itadori and Aoi told me something exponentially different. But anyway,” you huff. “It’s okay. Itadori will have more use for it than us.”

“Okay,” he whispers and then goes back to the previous matter. “And that guy, Todo, he’s not actually Yuji’s brother is he?”

You snort and shake your head. “No! Aoi is weird okay? They’re not really brothers.”

Choso sighs with what seems to be relief and you can’t help but giggle before you start cleaning the breakfast aftermath, and then once again change, but this time in a cute, expensive, fashionable, and warm outfit to wear out and impress the newly awakened sorcerers.

You wanted Satori to match with you, but she refused and said she’d look silly in a long fur coat, and that it was far too late considering she had changed already…

Tsk.

“Do you remember when we used to brush daddy’s hair?” Satori interjects as you brush her long black hair back since she’s refusing to let you style it because apparently, you’re bad at it. But the real reason is that she misses Belinda doing her hair.

“Hm,” you answer softly. “I do.”

“I miss it.”

You let out a deep sigh and debate about telling her about Choso and you since she’s thinking back to her father. It’d be…inappropriate no?

Then again Choso is going to tell Itadori, and you’re going to tell Shoko and your students, so word will travel and you don’t want her to hear it from someone else and feel betrayed, so…there’s no better time than now.

“Satori, I have to tell you something, okay?” You don’t prolong the news.

“Okay, what is it?” She asks completely unaware.

You sigh deeply and brush her hair at a slower pace. “It’s about Choso and I…”

She doesn’t move or react. She sits still and waits which, only makes your stomach knot together.

“We’re…” you pause and think about how to say it in a manner she’ll understand. “Boyfriend and girlfriend.”

Satori stiffens and then pulls away, dragging her long hair along with her. “Why?” She quickly cuts in with a hurt little look. “What about daddy?”

“Satori, Daddy is gone,” you remind her gently.

“I know,” she says sharply. “But…won’t he get sad? You don’t love him anymore?”

You grab at your chest and then crouch to be at her level. “Chipmunk, I will always love your dad. I will never, ever forget him, but it’s time I move on and that’s ok,” you assure her and grab her hands to cup them in yours. “It’s okay to move on because we’re not going to forget him are you?”

Satori’s eyes get watery as she shakes her head. “No.”

“No,” you agree. “He’s always going to be with us.”

“He’s,” she pauses and sniffles. “He’s going to live in us? Like Choso said?”

You smile and nod softly. “Yeah. He is.”

Satori’s tears roll down her cheeks, so you quickly wipe them away. “My little love,” you coo. “It’s okay. Your daddy wants us to be happy. He wants me to be happy, and Choso makes me happy. You think he’s nice, no?”

Satori nods, but she doesn't answer, she instead asks a question. “He makes you very happy?” Her voice quivers.

You beam at her and wipe away her tears. “Yeah, he makes me very happy. And look, he’s never going to take your dad's place, okay? Never. He’s just going to be part of our family now. And it’s okay if it takes you time to be his friend, he understands.”

Satori nods in comprehension and looks at you with a wobbly smile. “You think Uncle Satoru will get mad?”

You scoff. “I am an adult, I make my own choices even if he likes them or not.”

Satori gasps. “He’s your big brother! He says he bosses you around because he’s the oldest.”

This is what he tells her?

Oh, he’s going to pay when he’s out of his stupid box!

“I am an adult, he might be my clan leader but he is not my boss, okay?” You sass her.

Satori giggles, making you tuck her hair behind her ears before you just press her one more time. “So what are your thoughts about Choso and me?”

Satori lets out a shaky sigh but she smiles. “If he makes you happy it’s okay. I’m happy if you’re happy.”

You flash her a grin and can’t help but trap her in an embrace. “Oh, I knew you’d understand.”

Satori hugs you back and stays in your embrace until you pull away.

“Now,” you interject happily. “Let’s finish brushing your hair so we can leave. They’re waiting for us.”

“And we’ll get Uncle Satoru out?” She can’t help but ask impatiently.

“Well,” you sigh. “That’s my hope, but I don’t know yet. We’ll see.”

Hopefully whatever Shoko needs to tell you doesn’t interfere with that today…you miss your big brother.

——

*LATER*

“What are we going to do now? What am I going to tell Satoru?” You mumble out and groan before you drop your head to rub your forehead from the stress Shoko just dropped on your shoulders.

“What are we going to tell Satoru,” Shoko corrects you and rummages through your coat pocket, but finds your worm Cursed-spirit tucked inside.

“That’s gross,” she groans.

You snicker and pull him out. “He’s in there just in case I need him, and so he doesn’t have to be around my shoulders all the time.”

Shoko lets it go and walks around you to dig through your other pocket, and this time pulls out what she was looking for; a cigarette box.

“It’s…weird being the adults now,” you think out loud while you take a cigarette stick Shoko offers you from your own pack. “We’re the ones in charge now. We’re the ones who are supposed to help them shape their future…” you let out a soft laugh and light the cigarettes with fire you summon over your finger.

“I would like to say that things were easier when we were in high school, but,” you sigh. “I don’t think that’s so.”

“We had our fun,” Shoko interjects as she blows out smoke. “We can say that. Going out was way more fun when we were teenagers.”

You laugh softly. “Yeah, they were. Now that was easier! And so were phones, I miss my flip phone.”

“Meh, I like that I can access the internet on my phone, and you know buy stuff from there.”

You smile. “Yeah that’s true…” you trail off and go back to thinking about Fushiguro and how Sukuna now traded hosts and put himself in the boy Satoru helped raise.

“We’re the adults, we're supposed to be better than the ones who surrounded us, but,” you sigh and draw in a long drag of your cigarette. “Fushiguro is gone,” you blow out and drop your head. “That angel girl got her arm bitten off, and all the students were in some deathmatch…I should’ve been there, I should've helped Fushiguro.”

If the roles were reserved with Satoru, he would’ve helped your kids, he would’ve fought a lot harder and just…been there.

“You couldn’t have done anything,” Shoko assures you. “It's Sukuna. Plus you wouldn't have even survived with how low your cursed technique was then. You’re still recovering.”

You drop your hand to let it hang over the balcony and shake your head in disapproval. “You don’t get it, because at least if I was there I could’ve tried. Now he’s gone, and Sukuna is fully in control. When we get Satoru out he will come to find the boy he raised lost inside a monster,” you say with frustration through gritted teeth. “And Fushiguro’s sister is probably dead.”

Or maybe Shoko is right and all you feel is guilt. Not for not being able to be there, but the possibility of letting down a person you haven’t even learned to forgive yet or figured out if you blame him for killing Suguru or not. Which is why you shouldn't be so hard on yourself—but, you still do love him, and knowing that once again someone that brought him happiness is gone, hurts you too.

“There’s still nothing you could’ve done,” Shoko rests her case without getting offended by the sharpness in your voice just now. “That’s how things are. Unexpected. You have to adapt to it.”

You draw in a slow drag and manage to grow an awe-struck smile on your face. “How do you do it?” You can't help but ask as you blow out smoke. “Stay so calm in these dire situations? I can go over a small bump on the road and I’m stressing out.”

Shoko's brown eyes find you through her cloud of smoke rising from her cigarette and answers with a faint smirk playing in the corner of her lips. “It comes with the career path. I can’t be freaking out or else the patient freaks out and only makes things harder.”

You grin. “Look at you Doctor Shoko. I’m impressed.”

She quirks a brow. “Did you doubt me?”

You let the cigarette burn and shrug. “Kind of,” you admit. “You were not so good at studying.”

“Yeah because I have an advantage,” she throws out casually, which makes you kind of worried now.

She is the only doctor here after all.

“The girl is fine right?” You double-check.

Shoko scoffs and nudges your shoulder. “She’s fine. I’m good at what I do okay?”

You laugh softly and put out your cigarette on the ashtray while she continues using hers.

“No, but seriously,” she says more seriously. “She’s in no fighting condition. She really got lucky. Which means…” she sighs and averts her gaze. “Satoru will have to wait a couple of days until she recovers.”

You blink and snap your eyes over to her to pass her a pointed glare. “What?”

Why didn’t she tell you before?

Sure you assumed that girl was going to have to take it easy because of what happened, but you didn’t think it would affect her ability to get Satoru out.

“I know you want to get him out already but what’s a couple more days?” She tries to assure you, but besides the fact that Sukuna is out and in control of a boy with the ten shadows technique, it’s been 17 days since he’s been stuck in that eerie box. Who knows what he’s going through, and! What if something happens in between those days and only sets back his release, causing him to suffer more?

He shouldn’t have to wait when you have the means to let him out already.

But it’s all because of that sorcerer girl who’s also inhabited by that other ancient sorcerer. And because she just used her heart.

And sure anyone can make the mistake, you could, but you were told that she had Sukuna basically in her grasp! And she let him go…

She needs to know, just hear a thing or two.

Thus you turn sharply on your heels and storm back inside with a prickly attitude.

“Y/N what are you doing?” Shoko asks as she tows behind you with concern.

Yet you ignore her and when you get inside the med-bay you see that young girl with the missing arm, and Okkotsu by her bedside. Not like you care about him.

“You,” you point at the girl who actually resembles an Angel. You thought she would’ve looked different, but regardless you share your purpose for storming in without shame.

“I'm going to tell you this once,” you continue. “What you did with Sukuna was incredibly stupid. I hope you know that. You had him right in your grasp and he’s gone now. And what’s even more fucking stupid is that two of you are in control.” You scoff, and the girl nervously glances at Shoko walking in after you.

“Did you let her do it?” You ask the sorcerer lurking inside the girl.

“No,” she quickly argues in an almost angelic voice. “Of course not. I warned her but she didn’t listen.”

You meet the girl's gaze again and only harden your glare. “You let your heart take control,” you spat. “In this business that can be a dangerous thing. And before you say it, trust me I know that ache, that need to save someone you love. I have to fight with a crazy sorcerer in my husband's body! For a couple of seconds when I saw him in Shibuya all I could feel was relief and joy to see him. I didn’t think about the red flags that popped in my head, but then I thought, I used my head and I rammed my hand through his chest. He’s only escaped me because he keeps trying to gut me.”

“But—”

“Butt out,” you snap at Okkotsu.

“Look, I know you’re new, kid,” you continue a bit nicer now that you have her attention and you have come to your full senses. “You’re young, but you have to use your head and your heart. And sometimes you can only use one even if it’s against someone you love. It’ll hurt, but it’s a sacrifice we must do for the greater good.”

“I…” the girl stammers and averts your gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” you retort with no hint of comfort. “Do better. And think about the fact that Sukuna is out now.”

You watch her for a lingering moment before you turn and walk out with Shoko following right at your heels.

“You were harsh, no?” She remarks.

You peer back at her and shake your head. “No. Remember we’re the adults now. There’s a balance of how to be with them, and sometimes you have to lean towards the harder side. I was being honest and head-on, like Yuki.”

Shoko is going to say something but when she realizes what you said and who you mentioned she knows you’re right. After all that incident could’ve caused the girl her life. She got very lucky.

Yet there is one thing she does point out. “You were also angry about Satoru.”

“Yes. He’s my brother.”

You don’t share the reason you suddenly blew up is because of the delay in his release, it wouldn't make you sound any nicer. So you’re just blunt.

“I won’t apologize,” you tell her and turn around to join the others now. And right away you spot Hakari, whom you had yet to see.

“Kinji!” You greet and catch his attention.

And the moment his eyes land on you he matches your excited energy. “Master,” he shouts back and meets you halfway with a quick embrace before you pull back and grab his chin to turn his head and worry.

“Did you see Shoko already? There’s no lingering side effects?”

After all, half of his face was so badly wounded that he had fucking muscle exposed.

“I did,” he tries to assure you as you try to find some fault he might’ve missed. “But I also did heal with RCT.” He smirks.

You let his face go and give him a proud smile. “I’m proud, Kin. I knew you would do it.” You pat his shoulder and catch Kirara walking over. “I would like to say it was my amazing teaching, but it’s all you and your technique. Good job.”

“Give yourself some credit I used skills and teachings you taught us,” he immediately argues to make you feel better.

Which works.

“Now did you go to Shoko,” he shares his concern as it's just you, him, and Kirara now that they join you. “You died, didn't you? We have to make sure you’re not part of the undead.”

Why did he and Kirara assume the same thing?!

“I’m fine, I’m healing fine,” you assure him and then feign a concerned face. “But I am craving flesh. Brains.”

Hakari crosses his arms over his chest and shakes his head. “You wouldn't even be talking.”

This is why you love them so much, they know how to roll with your humor.

“Unless she’s like those zombies from that one movie where they run and climb over walls,” Kirara points out.

Hakari and you shake your head but he corrects them. “They never talked.”

“Oh! I can be like one of those zombies from that movie where the girl falls in love with a zombie. They talk.” You remind them.

“I fell asleep through that movie,” Hakari says. “It was lame.”

“Yeah.” You nod slowly.

“Anyway!” You clap your hands and look around the room filled with other sorcerers. “Why don’t you guys introduce me to the new sorcerers? Like that cute lawyer.” You smirk.

“He’s not here,” Kirara bursts your bubble. “Takaba and Kashimo are though.”

You frown with disappointment, but follow them towards a man that almost scares the piss out of you because he’s like half-naked.

“Oh,” he gasps and his eyes widen as he spots you approaching. “Oh no.”

You try to wipe off your partially freaked out and judgemental face, but his uniform is too revealing, you can’t pretend to be okay with it.

“This is Takaba,” Kirara introduces him as you stop in front of him. “Takaba—”

“You. I know you,” he cuts them off out of breath when you stop across from him. “You—should I bow? I don’t know what to do.”

You muster a laugh and shake your head as you wave your hands in protest too. “Don’t bow. Please. Just introduce yourself. Distract me from what you’re wearing.”

“Right!” He nods his head harshly and thankfully offers you a traditional greeting bow and not some awkward one. “My name is Fumihiko Takaba!”

You offer him a smile and just keep heavy eye contact. “I’m y/n Gojo.”

He nods rapidly while he looks at you completely starstruck now. “I know. You’re famous out there, and in the sorcerer world, I hear. I never thought I’d meet you.”

You giggle and part your lips to ask him about his technique, but he cuts you off.

“Do you want to hear a Joke? I’m a comedian.”

You blink with curiosity and immediately nod. “Yeah, shoot.”

Takaba clears his throat first. “Don’t marry me! I don’t want you as my wi-fi!”

You look at him with a straight face for a few seconds, making him grow nervous before you start laughing.

He doesn’t think you’re serious at first, but when he notices that you’re being genuine he laughs with you until you stop.

“I like it,” you compliment him. “Thank you for that.”

Takaba lets out a deep and relieved breath. “Good. I'm glad you liked it…you really liked it?”

You nod. “Yeah, man, I enjoy good puns.”

“Really? I have more!”

“Well I would love to hear them, but I do have others to meet so find me later. Really, please do, I might just tell you some of my own.” You make him finally smile at you without anxiety tensing up his face

“Alright! Okay! It was very nice meeting you ms y/n! I’m a fan! You’re very pretty!” He exclaims.

You touch your chest and bow your head. “Thank you Takaba.”

When you walk away and make a distance between him and you, Hakari interjects. “I shoulda bet you Kira, I knew he was going to react like that.”

Kirara pats their lips. “I thought he’d be more ecstatic.”

As they talk and guide you to the next person you look around the room until you spot Satori with Inumaki messing with Panda. Which is good, you smile at the sight. Even if Satoru’s old students dislike you for last year's events, it’s good they don’t pass that resentment to Satori.

“Master,” Hakari reels your attention back to them as you come to a stop by a tall man with long cyan colored hair and lightning marks under his eyes that are already on you. “This is Hajima Kashimo.”

Unlike Takaba this guy doesn’t greet you right away, he doesn’t seem open whatsoever either. He stands tall and looks at you not with a piercing look, it’s more pointed, but you don’t know if he’s trying to size you up or looking for something in you.

Whatever it is you don’t let him intimidate you. You raise your chin and stand just as tall, but you pierce your fire-kissed eyes. You don’t fear men or ancient sorcerers who call themselves gods.

“What’s going on?” Kirara whispers to Hakari.

“Hm.” Kashimo finally reacts. “Finally someone somewhat strong.”

“You're the God of Lightning?” You break your silence and press your hands on your hips. “The one who couldn’t even beat a sorcerer from the new era.” You smirk. “Some God.”

Kirara scoffs in amusement at the way you don’t flinch or hide.

Kashimo huffs. “He got lucky.”

You snicker and roll your eyes. “Tell yourself that.”

He scoffs and leans in closer. “I heard he’s your student. Would you like to prove your worth?”

You look him up and down and when you meet his gaze you narrow your glare further and don’t let your smirk falter. “I don’t need to prove anything to you.” You spat

Kashimos’ pointed look now pierces in you, but you catch the corner of his lips twitch to a smirk before he pulls back and scoffs. “All right, Gojo. I see you.” He mutters before he turns away from the three of you, letting Kirara, Hakari, and you share a teasing look before you walk away.

And as you do walk away you finally spot Choso already watching you by the living area. And rather than seeing nonchalance, you see his nose slightly scrunched and his eyebrows faintly furrowed with an emotion you can only read as jealousy. He looks different when he’s concerned. But this is hot too.

So you shoot him a smirk and don’t immediately aim towards him, instead you depart from your students and walk to the guy Nanami was mentoring.

“Ino,” you call for his attention and he immediately turns. When he notices you his eyes slightly widen with surprise. “Right?” You ask. “Kento was mentoring you?”

“Uh, yeah that’s me,” he says gently.

You offer him a smile. “I just wanted to give you my condolences. And tell you that if you ever need anything, reach out to me. I will be more than happy to help one of Kento’s students.”

Ino lets out a deep sigh and offers you a small bow of his head. “Thank you so much, Miss Gojo. And I’m sorry for your loss. He didn't really share much about his personal life, but he did tell me you were his best friend.”

Your smile spreads to a grin and just before you can thank him he pulls out Nanami’s cleaver.

“Shoko gave this to me, but he was your friend, take it,” he says and pushes it towards you, but you instead push it back towards him.

“Keep it,” you tell him sweetly. “We didn't talk much about sorcerery, but he did mention that you were a great student,” you let him know, making his eye soften. “So I’m sure he’ll want you to keep it. Besides, you can find a better use for it than I can.”

Ino bows his head and gives you a brighter smile. “Thank you so much, Miss Gojo.”

You offer him a sweet grin before you turn away and now head towards Choso, who smiles softly at you as he sees you approaching him.

“Cho!” You greet and fall beside him on the couch he’s on. “I missed you,” you whisper and wrap your arms around his neck.

“Missed me?” He asks with his cheeks turning a shade of red. “I was here.”

You smirk. “Tell me about it. Now.” You begin to press and make his gaze finally fall on you. “What’s wrong my beloved?”

Choso stays quiet for a moment and the mark on his nose crinkles slightly. “What do you mean?” He asks even though he knows exactly what it is you’re referring to.

“You’re pouting,” you point with a teasing smile. “Your nose is crinkled just a bit, and you're glaring, but not in the way when you’re lost in thought, your eyebrows are furrowed then not pinched.”

Choso’s blush turns a deeper red as hears that you pay more attention to him than he thinks.

“Any particular reason?” You press deeper and slide a hand down to rub his chest. “Or did you just miss me?”

A laugh escapes from his lips before he sighs deeply and turns in his seat to face you. “Do you remember when you said you wanted to get ramen at some place in the city?”

You’re not hungry now, but you could get hungry on the way…

“Yeah,” you answer excitedly. “Why?”

Choso grabs your hand that you have on his chest and caresses it while he averts his gaze and almost lights on fire with how red he’s turning. “Would you…like to go on a date with me?” He asks and bats his eyelashes to look back at you with a softened gaze that only makes his brown eyes gleam brighter.

“We’re partners now,” he adds. “And even if I haven’t been here long I know that’s what partners do, and I want to do this right with you.”

You grin and grab his jaw to press a big fat sloppy kiss on his lips. “I would love to go on a date with you,” you finally give his tense heart comfort.

“And I know you like the ocean but you hate looking at the fishes in the tanks,” he says confidently. “But your student Kirara says that there's a place where you’re surrounded by screens and it looks like you’re in the place you want to be. We can go there too.”

Your smile softens as you feel yourself fall in complete awe. “I would love that,” you whisper softly, making him smile. “I really would.”

Choso caresses your cheek and leans in to give you a short but deep kiss.

“We can go after we get your brother out. It only seems fitting then.” He says against your lips.

You nod in comprehension and before pulling away and without leaning in for more, you hold each other's gazes for a lingering moment before you hear a sudden screech-like cry.

“Mommy!”

You sigh and without looking back to gather any intel, you quickly counter. “Kinji leave the child alone!”

Choso looks over and sees what you assumed, Hakari teasing Satori by holding something of hers several feet over her head.

“How did you know that happened?” Choso asks almost amazed by your know-how without even looking back.

“Years of practice,” you share with a laugh.

Choso hums and glances over your shoulder to continue watching Satori with the other students. “Did you always want to become a mother?” He asks and focuses on you.

Your grin falls to a frown as you think about the children you lost. “No,” you reveal the truth and muster a faint smile. “When I was a teenager all I wanted was to hone my technique and not be stuck here...” You sigh and lean your side against the couch, but never let your eye contact wander. “But then the twins and I crossed paths, I was scared to be what my parents were to me, but I also knew that they wouldn't be treated better if we left them. So after Suguru comforted my fear, I chose to be their mother, and not once have I regretted taking that leap. Now I can't think of anything better than being a mother.”

Choso smiles at you with soft admiration, making your face grow hot under his admiring gaze.

“Now you,” you bring back now that you’re alone. “What's got your mind wheels churning behind those nice eyes, hm?”

Choso scoffs and watches as he slithers a hand on the couch to slide it over yours and continue touching so he can feel that much closer to you.

“I wasn’t sure before. In the morning.” He begins to say and knits his thick eyebrows together. “But today when we got here and I heard that Yuji could’ve died yesterday against Sukuna, it became clear…I want him to consume my brothers.”

You blink with surprise and tilt your head down to meet his gaze. “Are you sure?” You make sure to ask only because he’s been so set on bringing his brothers to life so they can live a good life.

“Yuji could’ve died, y/n,” he argues and meets your gaze. “And there’s still a fight to come with Sukuna and Noritoshi. What brother would be if I continue disappointing him? This way he’ll be stronger, and my brothers will live on in Yuji.”

You begin to caress his knuckles with your finger and don’t argue. If this is what he wants all you can do is support his choice.

After making sure this is really what he wants.

“Are you sure, Choso? If he consumes them I don’t think you’ll be able to bring them back.”

Choso draws out a deep breath and nods without hesitation. “Yes, and I’m sure this is what they’d want too. This way he’ll have the support and strength of his older brothers, and we can make up for all our years of absence in his life.”

You hum in comprehension and hold his hand now. “All right,” you finally show him your support. “Sounds like a good plan. You’re a good brother, my love.”

That pet name escaped you. It’s something you haven’t said before and it almost makes you shy to say it, but it also feels so right saying it to him.

And it also doesn’t go unnoticed, Choso looks at you with surprise before he grows flustered.

“Thank you,” he says quietly. “I really needed to hear that after my choice.”

You smile at him and lift his hand to press a kiss on his fingers. “It’s like you said, they will all live through Itadori. It’s a good choice.”

Choso lets out all the tension he had on his shoulders with a deep breath.

“Now,” you interject and squirm. “Talking about brothers. I will warn you, my brother…he will be annoying towards you when he finds out we’re together.”

“Well we did fight,” Choso quickly justifies Satoru’s behavior, but that’s not what you’re referring to.

“No, no, honey, he will be annoying because he tends to do that with the people I’m with. He never really liked the idea of Suguru and me together until he reflected on it when it was too late.”

“You’re his little sister,” Choso rebuttals. “And he has a niece to consider as well. He’s just being protective.”

“There’s a way to be protective without being annoying,” you grumble as if it’s already happening. “But anyway, it’s just a warning, okay? So when he gets annoying towards you just shrug him off and ignore him, it’s what I do. And just continue being who you are, that will make him back off just a bit. All right? Just don’t let him intimidate you. Behind all that strong sorcerer exterior is a dorky and good-hearted guy.”

Choso nods in comprehension but doesn’t seem to grasp just how annoying Satoru can be.

He’ll know soon enough then.

——

*A COUPLE DAYS LATER*

“Hold up,” you immediately butt in as you catch Itadori and Takaba setting the backgate down in the middle of the room. “You’re not planning to release the seal are you?”

Both men look over at you with confusion, and Itadori interjects. “Yeah, can’t we?”

You share a nervous laugh and don’t know if he’s playing or not.

“I mean—”

��Now that you mention,” Takaba interrupts you and jumps to his feet. “This place is a bit dull for a homecoming...”

Oh. No.

“Should we decorate it a little? Do we have origami?” He continues to ask, making Satori's little face brighten at the mention as she sits next to Kurusu, the girl being used by Angel.

“I want to help!” Satori exclaims.

“Great!” Takaba shouts back and leans towards her. “Let’s make interlocked rings like so,” he demonstrates with his hands.

You glance over at Choso and share a slightly teasing look.

“I know what those are,” Satori says excitedly as she sits on her knees on the seat. “Me and my sisters made it for my mommy’s birthday.”

“Good, now what are his favorite colors?” Takaba wonders as he steps back.

“That’s not what I meant,” you interject before Angel bounces in.

“It is said time does not flow within the prison realm. Therefore, whatever is trapped inside will not die due to starvation or old age. The prisoner will live indefinitely so long as they do not end their own life.”

Satoru is strong-minded. He wouldn’t do that, would he?

Unless the prison realm is mentally torturing him

and having him live through his worst fear, or reliving bad memories.

But even still Satoru is strong-willed.

“It sounds like you could use it as a Time Machine if you wanted,” Hakari shares, making you smile in amusement.

“It wouldn't go as well as you would think,” Angel breaks his illusion. “Precisely because there is no concept of physical time, it is impossible for us to know how Satoru Gojo has perceived the last 19 days since Halloween. It could have felt like a blink of an eye for him, but it is equally possible that it felt like waiting 100 years.”

19 days have felt like an eternity for you, it’s like you’ve lived several lifetimes throughout those days, so you can only imagine what it’s like for your brother who is just stuck.

Hopefully, he’s been able to take it easy at least. He needs it.

“Hm, so what then?” Angel continues to share. “What I’m worried about is Satoru Gojo’s mental state. He’s the strongest sorcerer of the current generation, right?”

You nod and hum. “That’s right. So if Satoru is in a state of mental disarray…”

“…undoing the seal in a narrow space like this could be very dangerous, right?” Shoko finishes for you.

You can see now why that can be a catastrophic problem.

“When you put it that way,” Itadori muses with concern.

“Sounds pretty dangerous,” Hakari lets his imagination run wild too.

You sigh. “So where then?” You query.

The room falls silent for a moment as everyone thinks hard until you come up with an idea. “When I was a student I would go train at Kiroko mines, a Jujutsu high training ground. From what I remember it’s steep enough, and far away enough from the city.”

Albeit, the rocky and dirty terrain isn’t friendly enough to your heels that perfectly compliment your Vintage Viviene Westwood matching 2 piece look.

“Why didn’t you change shoes?” Shoko sounds like Nanami.

“Well.” You shrug and thank your modeling career for teaching you how to walk in heels in all kinds of terrain, or else you probably would have twisted an ankle. “I wasn’t planning to come here, and considering you and Choso,” you point your eyes at him beside you. “Have basically put me on house arrest. I don't bother to put on training attire.”

“It’s not like we’re running a runaway.”

“You can’t run a runway,” you sass her. “Unless it’s what the designer wants. You strut a runway.” You smirk and swiftly put on your sunglasses as the sun is bothering your eyes.

Shoko rolls her eyes and slides on her own sunglasses before she lifts them a little and leans toward your neck. “Is that—”

You cut her off by backing away towards Choso, and pull up the fur collar on your coat to cover the love mark on your neck.

However, if she's surprised by that she should see the rest of your body, Choso has been very loving and sweet and loves to leave marks on your body.

Even thinking about it now makes you all tingling.

And sure you could heal them but what’s the point in that? You like looking at them when you’re alone.

“Shut up,” you hiss at her nonetheless because your daughter is close by.

“Imagine if Satoru sees it, like, I’m so happy to be back and see you’re not dead, sister,” she mocks him. “Oh wait, is that?”

You glare at her and just ignore her even as she laughs softly at her own joke.

“Here seems to be a good spot,” Angel announces as Kurusu comes to a stop in front of sandbag barriers.

“Well,” you tell Shoko as you take the chairs Choso was holding for you and her. “Here goes our peace and quiet.”

“You said it,” she mumbles as you both fist pump while you take your seats.

“Mommy I want to be with the others,” Satori runs over to tell you.

You glance back at where Kirara and Hakari are to make sure it’s a safe spot when Angel opens the gate. “Alright, just hide behind the sandbags when they open the gate, ‘kay?”

Satori nods and you watch her run over to join Kirara and Hakari to just reassure yourself it’s safe before you return your worry to your brother's release.

What if it doesn’t work out? Or what if Tengen was wrong and Angel ends up destroying the Prison Realm and Satoru along with it?

Or what if Satoru comes out and he’s deranged? Or so traumatized he can’t even talk?

And the worst fear you have and might be a stretch is, what if somehow he loses his memory and forgets everything and everyone?

Okay yeah, that sounds a bit crazy. They all kind of stem from your growing stress and anxiety of getting your brother out because if it turns out you can’t get him out or he’s somehow dead, what will be of you then?

“Here we go!” Kurusu announces as she flies up to the sky, making you draw in a deep breath and start gnawing your nails.

Choso immediately notices your anxiety and reaches over to take your hand out of your mouth and interlace his fingers with yours instead, making you grab onto that same arm with your other hand as you watch Kurusu lift her trumpet, and take a deep breath before Inumaki shouts through his megaphone.

“Salmon!!”

Kurusu blows through her trumpet and a large and bright beam of light falls over the backgate like an explosion, causing high winds to blow dust back that you manipulate to not hit you and the other two you’re with.

Once the beam is gone, a thick cloud of dust now covers where the backgate was and the possibility of where Satoru could be.

“What happened?” Itadori shouts as everyone pops up like little gophers. “Gojo?! Is it safe to come close?!”

You only drop one hand off Choso’s arm, but keep holding his hand for support as you stand up and only take a step forward as all the students, and Satori run towards the place Satoru is supposed to be.

“Huh? Gojo?!” You hear Itadori shout as he enters the clearing dust cloud. And you can’t stand your nerves anymore, you join the others hand in hand with Choso.

And much to your disappointment as the dust clears the backgate is gone and your brother is nowhere to be seen.

“Did he disappear along with the prison realm?” Itadori asks worryingly.

Satori notices that her uncle isn’t appearing so she finds you and grabs your other hand.

“Where is he mom?” She whispers with worry.

You’re honest and shrug. “I don’t know,” you let her know. “But I’m sure he’s okay.”

“And thus yet another useless piece of trivia is known to the world,” Takaba interjects and it doesn’t land right. You’ve found him to be funny, but right now that ticks you off.

“Might Satoru Gojo be some kind of evil spirit?” Kurusu tries to defend what just happened. “It would explain why he disappeared when exposed to our light. So it isn’t really my fault then, right? Right?”

You narrow your gaze to a glare and hold yourself from once again going off on her like last time.

“She’s playing defense,” Itadori mutters.

“Well, can’t really argue that Gojo’s personality had some evil to it,” Shoko inputs nonchalantly, causing a small laugh to actually escape your lips.

Nevertheless, suddenly then you catch the pebbles beneath your feet begin to bounce calmly, while the dust on the ground begins to lift before you feel a shift beneath your feet. Meaning only one thing is starting to happen.

“Earthquake,” you announce to everyone with disbelief before the ground shakes violently, making you protectively wrap your arm around Satori.

“An earthquake?!” Kurusu shouts.

“This can't be a coincidence!!” Itadori says hopefully.

And you also can’t help but be hopeful now too, because it really can’t be a coincidence, the animals at home would’ve given it away by acting strange. They were calm last night and this morning. So this must be because of Satoru…

“Y/N what do you think it was?” Shoko asks once the ground stops trembling.

You scoff and look at her with a perplexed look. “What am I? A seismologist?”

She smirks. “I like how you immediately knew what they’re called.”

You flash her a half smile and shrug. “I watch a lot of nature documentaries. Anyway,” you change the subject. “I’m sure he’ll find us when he’s done with whatever he’s doing, so.” You grin now. “Why don’t we all go to my place now! We can welcome him there with food and whatever it is you guys wanted to make!”

“Hey yay!” Kirara exclaims.

“I would really love to go see your home!” Takaba says unexpectedly and you can’t help but laugh.

——

*LATER*

Everyone who went to the training grounds is here now waiting for Satoru to come after being released, hoping that what Kurusu and Angel did didn’t actually kill him. Even the second-year students are here at your house. Everyone except for him.

And it’s not like you expect a phone call or a message, it’s more than likely that his phone doesn’t work anymore considering where he's been, but it’s been a while since he was released. Takaba, Satori, and some others have already hung up decorations and made a welcome-back cake in the time you’ve been waiting.

Which is why you go out to your back porch and worry. Just for a little. It’s so crowded inside that it only heightens your stress, even if half of the students are out on the grounds exploring what your community has to offer.

It’s almost getting hard to breathe with all the worry crumbling you.

But you stay strong, you have to keep hope, and not think of the possibility of having him actually be dead. Because if he is…

“Mommy!” A muffled call breaks you from your train of thought before the back door slides open and you hear clearer. “Mommy!”

You draw out a deep breath and hide your stress with a smile before you stand up straight and turn to look at her. “Yes…” your words fall out of your mouth as you see who’s standing tall behind her. An unbelievable yet comforting sight that erases all the worry and fear that had been eating away at you, and that slowly erases the grudge and slight dislike you held against him, returning that pure unconditional love you once so deeply had for your brother.

“Satoru,” you whisper shakily in disbelief.

Said man let’s go of your daughter's hand and steps forward to study you from head to toe with his bright blue eyes starting to gleam as they narrow on you.

“My six eyes are telling me it’s you, but…I saw you,” he says breathlessly. And for the first time in a long time, you see tears running down his cheeks. “He killed you.”

You nod. “He did, but not at that time, I lived. I had a small window and I took it. I’m here.”

A small smile twitches on his pink lips but instead of coming at you, you assure him one last time.

“I’m really here.”

Satoru lets out a breathless scoff and without waiting another minute you both break away from your spots and meet each other halfway with a tight embrace.

Which feels kind of unbelievable. It feels like a dream, and now you’re scared that it is and you’ll wake up with him still gone.

Albeit his scent isn’t so dreamlike, he smells like sweat and whiffs of death.

You’d usually tell him off but he gets a pass today. Besides it’s not like you can actually let go, you cling onto him out of fear he’ll be gone all over again.

“I’m so happy you’re home!” Satori exclaims and throws her arms around you and Satoru, making him laugh softly before he breaks away and crouches to her level to hold her cheeks.

“I’m so happy to see you, Sugar,” he calls her by the nickname he stole from you. “It’s felt like ages! I mean you even look taller.”

Satori's eyes widen and she hovers her hand above her head to compare her height to him. “Really?!” She asks excitedly.

Satoru snickers and shakes his head. “No.”

Satori’s smile falls and she points a glare at him, “you know maybe it was better when you were locked away.”

“Satori,” you scold her.

Nevertheless, Satoru laughs at her remark and doesn’t find it offensive whatsoever.

“I missed you,” he tells her sweetly.

She can’t help but grin and then grab his hands. “I made you a present. And I bought you one too!”

“Oo, I like presents, why don’t you give them to me later though, hm?”

Satori nods. “All right.”

You sigh and interject. “Satori, why don’t you wait for us inside? I need to talk to your uncle okay?”

Satori is hesitant and looks at you with pleading eyes so you can let her stay, but you don’t give in and just narrow your eyes, causing her to sigh dramatically before she stomps inside, leaving Satoru and you alone.

“I was told that I was only gone for 19 days, but,” Satoru begins to say as he stands up to his given height. “It’s felt like 19 years.”

“Satoru,” you speak with sorrow. “It’s Fushiguro—”

“I know,” he cuts you off and turns to face you. “I got out and went to go find our “friend”,” he spats out that word with spite. “…in Suguru’s body and Sukuna was there with a little thing with a bad colored bob.”

Your lips twitch to an amused smile, but it doesn’t take long before a frown creases on your face. “I wasn’t there that day, I’m sorry…I know what the boy meant to you. I'm sorry I couldn't save him from that fate.”

Satoru lets out a deep breath and walks over to stand next to you against the wooden railing. “It was Sukuna, y/n, there wasn’t anything you could’ve done to stop him from taking what he wanted.”

Shoko said that too, but who knows, maybe you could’ve done something.

Your guilt makes you feel that way anyway.

“And you should know so you don’t go on the rest of your day wondering,” you continue with more terrible news. “Nanami…and…the twins are gone,” you barely manage to finish even if you knew, even if you saw that they were at peace now.

Maybe it’s the fact that you’re telling your big brother that triggers your grief to reappear like if it was the first time sharing the news, or the fact that no matter what, your heart will still break because they’re not actually here, but you can’t help but share it in a quivering voice and feel your heart break.

“I’m sorry,” you murmur.

Satoru looks away and nods as he understands right away.

You don’t need to simplify the news to him, he’s not 6 years old. He knows what you mean, and the news falls on him like a heavy weight he can’t actually carry.

“I’m sorry,” he tells you quietly. “You losing your girls shouldn't have happened. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help. Was it…”

“Kenjaku?” You fill his silence so he can know his name. “No…it was Sukuna. They wanted to free Suguru,” you share with each word pulling tears out of your eyes. “They were there to free him and I didn’t know. I should have known, I should have paid more attention to them. I should have fought them to go back home, but I…I,” your voice breaks and you can’t even finish what you wanted to say because of your tears triggered by grief.

“You trusted them,” Satoru assures you and reaches over to hold your hand. “You were a good mother. You trusted them and let them make their own choice. It’s not your fault.”

Tears stream down your face now over his sweet words.

“They’re still gone,” you bring yourself down. “I wasn’t strong enough to save them. I was weak…a weak link,” you whisper the words your parents told you under your breath, but he catches them and quickly rebuttals.

“Y/N I told you not to listen to what they would tell you. They aren’t right, you’ve proved that time and time again. Losing the twins wasn't because you were weak, it was because Sukuna is evil. We’re going to kill him.”

You take his words to heart and answer with a comprehensive silence before you interject. “I’m sorry, it’s your first day back and I’m hounding you with all my trauma.”

He scoffs. “I don’t mind. I’m actually…glad you could talk to me about it.” He says and turns his head away from the scenery ahead of him to look at you. “I missed you.”

You laugh softly and meet his gaze. “Oh wow, who would’ve known Satoru has such a good heart, and sarcasm and bad jokes aren’t all he knows.”

He rolls his eyes away but a smirk tugs on his lips.

“Satoru,” you say after a deep breath. “I forgive you for leaving me that day. I didn't know if I ever could. And to be honest, throughout these 19 days I was still unsure.” You sigh. “But seeing you today, being able to talk to you again made me realize I don’t want to hold that against you anymore. So I forgive you. I hope we can be as close as we once were.”

Satoru looks at you in silence for a lingering moment before he lets out a relieved breath and smiles. “Well isn’t that a treat?”

You muster a soft laugh, and his smile falters as he looks down and pats the railing before he holds onto it.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you enough to take you back with me that day,” he shares from the bottom of his heart, making your breath hitch. “I knew how they treated you and I still turned my back on you that day. Me being scared and protective doesn’t defend why I left you, we should have left together, and I should have let you make your own choice.”

More tears roll down your cheeks, but this time they’re happy tears. Tears of relief since for 11 years that's all you wanted to hear from him.

“It’s okay,” you assure him with a happy smile.

He leaves a moment of silence as you both relish in your joy after your heart-to-heart.

You almost don’t want to break it because you’re enjoying it so much, but he breaks his silence with a curious question. “Do you think you still would have left with Suguru if we had gone back home together?”

You sigh deeply and shrug. “I don’t know. I really don’t. I didn't believe in helping non-sorcerers by then so I really don’t know.”

He hums and silence falls again, this time it lasts a while and you finally find the need to go inside to join the others. However, there’s one more thing you need to share.

“Before we go inside I need to tell you something,” you laugh nervously and lean back on your heels while you hold onto the railing. “I’m dating Choso. Itadori’s brother. The guy with the blood manipulation technique that attacked you that day in Shibuya.”

“Oh?” Satoru gasps, and from the corner of your eyes, you can already see how perplexed he looks which makes reading him hard.

“After 19 days?” He asks.

Does he mean that in a rude way, or a curious one?

You can’t tell and it only makes you more nervous.

“A lot has happened since then,” you explain yourself. “I’ve lived so many lives, and he’s been there throughout it all. He’s really been my support system. I don’t know what I would have done without him, so be nice okay?” You plead and look at him with a soft begging gaze so it could be harder for him to go against you.

“What does Satori think?” He makes sure to ask.

You sigh. “She liked him before I told her, after he saved her from Kenjaku’s clutches, but after I told her I think she’s scared he’s going to replace her dad in some way. She just needs time though. I understand that.”

Satoru hums and your heart nervously skips a beat.

“He’s nice and sweet. And he really loves me, and he cares for Satori,” you try to say in Choso’s defense. “And I really love him too.”

Satoru scoffs, but he doesn’t share what he hides behind that displeased scoff. Instead, he just feigns a faint smile and nods to assure you before he interjects. “He’s Yuji’s brother you say?”

You laugh with relief as you believe he’s okay with your news. Even if you weren’t asking permission, you were just letting him know because he’s your brother and you don’t want to hide your relationship.

“Yeah, how about Itadori tells you though,” you say happily and land back on your feet before you let go of the railing and start heading towards the door. “It’s a long story.”

“Okay,” he mutters and hides what’s slowly building up inside.

“Now let’s go inside, you must be starving.” You add and open the door. And as if summoned by your conversation the first person you see right as you walk in is Choso.

And he of course spots you right away and can’t help but offer you a faint smile since he was waiting for you to come in. However, when his eyes find your tear-stained cheeks his smile falls to a frown and he basically runs to your side.

“Are you okay? Why are you crying?” He worries about you as he grabs your chin to look at the stains as if they were causing you physical harm.

“I’m okay,” you assure him as you pull his hands off your face, but keep one in the warmth of your hold. “I'm just happy to see my brother, that's all. You’d understand that.”

Choso and you share a soft laugh, and unknowingly that only irritates Satoru. Seeing Choso and you hold hands ticks him off.

When Suguru and you told him you were dating so long ago he was upset, but knowing you’re dating Choso really pisses him off.

A/N- what if I wrote a what-if If chapter? 🤔🤔

Tagged- @deniseabad1928 @secondary-character-25 @starlightanyaaa @notsaelty @d4rno @moonnime @kodzukein @yozora7154 @heijihattorisgf @elegantweirdorchest @natakina

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