Screen Siren's Fanfic Blog

“Hey, Mika-Chan; what do you think of these..?!”

Asked Saturo after trying on yet another pair of ridiculous sunglasses; these ones pink and in the shape of clouds that his eyes made it look like the blue sky was peering through.

“They look just as stupid as the last ones…”

She replied, having already had to have dealt with him trying on the heart shaped ones, and some laughably undersized ones that looked like they were out of The Matrix.

“Oh; come on! You haven’t liked any of the ones I’ve tried..!”

Complained Satoru, taking off the glasses so she could get a glimpse of his sickening blue eyes; the colour so bright she had no choice but to look away.

“Maybe it’s because your taste in accessories is shit..?”

She suggested, the boy looking thoroughly insulted at the very implication, but Satoru was hardly the pinnacle of fashion.

“Is not!”

He objected, only for her to tow him out of the store, no longer interested in playing dress up with a 6’4” Barbie when they were supposed to be looking for Getou.

“Hey! I was gonna buy those!”

Protested Satoru, hands reaching out to grab ahold of the glasses as she dragged him by the back of the shirt into the street.

“Trust me; I’m doing you a favour…”

She replied, already knowing that he had quite the sunglasses collection, none of which he actually used aside from his current blue pair.

“You’re a real killjoy, you know that?!”

Satoru continued to gripe, reluctantly following her through the crowds as she tried to work out where to check next.

“Have you ever considered that not everyone wants to be an accomplice to your dumbassery..?”

She asked, more concerned with where that damn Curse had gone than Satoru’s feelings.

She hadn’t seen that mutated bug for at least half an hour, and at this rate she’d probably lost it forever.

“It’s not dumbassery if it’s fun; and you are no fun, Mika-Chan…”

Replied Satoru; the boy still pushing the ‘good times’ angle, ignoring the fact that this was meant to be a mission and not a shopping spree.

“I’m plenty of fun…”

She disagreed, already knowing there was really no point in arguing, but she was bored, and at least it was entertaining.

“Pffff..!”

Scoffed Satoru, the sound coming out more like a raspberry, but then when had she expected him to be mature?!

“What’s so funny?”

She asked, threading her way through another dense patch of tourists as they stared up at Takeshita Street’s neon lights like moths to a flame with half the IQ.

“You?! Fun?! I don’t think you know the meaning of that word!”

He laughed as if the very concept was absurd to him, Satoru so used to taking his entire life as a joke, that anyone who didn’t was a stick in the mud.

“I thought we had fun the other night…”

She replied, lowering her voice ever so slightly as she let her hand brush against his, Satoru’s neck turning a subtle shade of pink beneath his collar.

“Ehem… That was different and you know it…”

He cleared his throat as he replied, looking ever so slightly embarrassed to be reminded of his submissive display in the light of day. 

It seemed Satoru Gojo didn’t enjoy it so much when it wasn’t him doing the shameless flirting.

“So what exactly can I do that you’d consider ‘fun’?” 

She asked, willing to indulge him this once if it meant shutting him up for a bit.

“Well; you coooouuuulllld…-“

He began to drawl, and she could already tell it was going to be something stupid and probably illegal.

“I’m not committing a felony…”

She told him; already seeing his face drop, before yet another smile began to spread there.

“Or any weird sex acts.”

She added for good measure, because Satoru was a kinky bastard who saw no problem in double daring her to do the dirty in public.

“Well; how else are we supposed to have any fun?!”

Lamented Satoru; his face resembling a petulant child in levels of poutiness and cuteness.

“Be creative! I’m sure you’ll come up with something…”

She replied, eager to prove to both him and herself that there was more fun in life that didn’t include handcuffs and a stolen police uniform.

“Then how about we go in there..?”

Suggested Satoru, the tall blonde pointing towards perhaps the only worse idea he could have other than public indecency.

Saturo was pointing at what otherwise looked like a very bright and colourful shop that seemed to sell raunchy cosplays; that was, until you looked closer and realised that wasn’t the only raunchy items they were selling.

“Oh no! Absolutely not happening…”

She refused point blank, already having her mind up that she wouldn’t be caught dead with him in there, no matter how many times he quadruple dared her.

“-Excuse me..!-“

Panted Mikasama as she cut through a tight crowd of brightly dressed students, her small body nearly knocking them flying from their impractical shoes as she ran like a madman through Harajuku’s streets.

She could still see the pinkish flesh of the Flyhead peaking out above the crowd; the undersized spirit proving to be much more of a pain than expected as it led her on a merry chase through Tokyo’s most famous shopping district.

“-Sorry-!”

She apologised as she nearly ran headfirst into a distracted businessman; the man looking strangely out of place in Harajuku’s sea of fashionable people as he stood staring on his phone, Mikasama apparently finding the people more of a hassle than the Curse thanks to peak shopping hours.

She couldn’t quite believe her father had sent her here.

I mean; sure, she wasn’t that experienced and she had no real idea of her Grade Level yet, but she and the boys had been sent on far more dangerous missions, and sending them to exorcise a Grade 4 Spirit seemed like overkill.

Still; the tricky bastard was having a good time proving otherwise as it skilfully evaded her using the densely packed crowds, her eyes having to be double sharp to catch sight of its cat-sized body amongst the overwhelming sights and sounds.

“Mika..-!”

Panted Satoru as he shoved his way through the oncoming foot traffic; the blonde’s ridiculously long legs apparently helping him little with keeping pace with her, though she had to admit it was funny watching people bounce off that stupid force field he’d so originally named ‘Infinity’.

“Mika-Chan; wait up..!”

He called as he shoved through another wave of walkers, sending yet another sky-gawking tourist flying as she walked straight into the invisible barrier that encased the Sorcerer.

Still; she didn’t have time to stop and wait for the ‘World’s Strongest Sorcerer’ to catch his breath; the Flyhead was getting away, and she had to catch it, before-

Annnd; she’d lost it.

It seems in her distraction of staring at Satoru Gojo and his Great Woman Repelling Technique, the Flyhead had managed to slip away into the crowd without them.

“Goddamnit…”

She muttered to herself, sounding an awful lot like her father as she scanned the pedestrian streets for a sign of the Curse, only to come up with nothing.

“-Did you catch it..?”

Asked Satoru breathlessly; the boy finally catching up with her as he bent double, resting his hands on his knees as he tried to regain his breath.

“No; no thanks to you…”

She replied, annunciating her thanks with a backhand to his chest, just in case he decided to take her thank seriously and ask for a reward.

“You really need to do some cardio, or something…”

She critiqued, taking note of his breathless, slightly sweaty form, some of his white blonde hair actually managing to stick to his forehead now he was wearing sunglasses and not that ridiculous blindfold.

“Well, excuse me if I didn’t think fighting Curses would include a triathlon..!”

He retorted, the rising arches of his blonde eyebrows looking almost comedic considering the uncharacteristically pink shade of his cheeks.

“Well; thanks to your shit stamina, we’ve now lost the Flyhead…”

She replied, bringing the topic back round to what actually brought them here other than Satoru’s lack of general fitness, her eyes scanning out fruitlessly amongst the shops in the vain hope that the Curse might reveal itself.

“I’ll have you know, my stamina is unrivalled..!”

Snapped Satoru, the comment wounding more than just his manly ego as they threaded their way through the Sunday morning shopping crowd in a hunt for Cursed Spirits.

“What happened to Seguru?”

She asked, noting the absence of the dark haired Sorcerer she’d given explicit instructions to stick to Satoru like glue.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, it was just with Gojo depositing new abilities like a goddamn vending machine, she couldn’t really trust him not to level half of Harajuku in a new ‘Apocalyptic Explosion’ Technique.

“Dunno; I lost him somewhere back at the food court…”

Replied Satoru as the pair of them made slow ground through the crowd, Mikasama deciding it was better they keep to a walking pace less Satoru’s Infinity send some helpless tourist straight into oncoming traffic.

“Really; Satoru..?!”

She raised a brow in response, hardly surprised that the blonde idiot had got distracted by food.

“They had Matcha soft serve!”

He defended himself; the promise of green tea flavoured dairy products apparently much more enticing than catching a Curse.

“Come on; we should probably start checking some of the stores in case it went inside…”

She urged, guessing that if the Flyhead was smarter than it looks, it was probably hiding out in one of the clothing stores that lined Harajuku like neon-clad coloured prostitutes. 

“Mika-Chan; are you asking me to go shopping with you..?”

Crooned Satoru with one of those stupid pouty looks that wouldn’t look out of place in a badly written romance anime.

“No; I’m asking you to get off the street before you score a strike in human bowling…”

She retorted, shoving him in front of her like a human battering ram as she steered them towards the nearest store, the sea of people splitting by the force of his Infinity like a flock of birds.

“Come on! Harder!”

Urged Satoru, surprisingly being able to keep his tone from slipping into something sexual as Seguru and Mikasama took turns hitting him with wooden practice swords, only for them to bounce off his barrier like it was some kind of super shield.

“Is that all you got?! I’m not even breaking a sweat yet!”

He continued to taunt, both his attackers doubling their efforts to no avail; the inch thick rods still bouncing off him like rubber bullets whilst Satoru didn’t so much as flinch.

“I honestly thought the pair of you had more stamina than that, but apparently I was wrong-!”

He goaded as Mikasama raised her practice sword high over her head, striking it down with all the strength she had in her as she felt something give way.

-CRACK!

Suddenly her sword snapped; the tough wood splintering as it snapped clean in two; the top half of the rod breaking off and catapulting half way across the courtyard from the sheer force she’d hit him with.

“Holy shit..!”

Muttered Satoru, instinctively moving out the way of the flying projectile, the clatter of it hitting the wall almost as loud as it breaking had been as it embedded itself deep into the wood.

“I guess we now know which is stronger…”

Commented Getou; the usually stoic boy’s eyebrows raised in uncharacteristic surprise as he observed how far the sword had managed to go.

“No way! There’s no way you just broke that!”

She said, refusing to believe that on top of being an invincibly strong Sorcerer, Satoru also got some weird invulnerability shield that meant no one could hit him no matter how hard they tried.

“Well; looks like I just did, so suck it up, Mika-Chan!”

Grinned Satoru widely; his smug expression only making her want to hit him more, except now that was impossible!

Stupid, dumb shield!

She stormed off to the side of the courtyard, not quite believing that Satoru could get any more conceited considering he was now damn well near enough a superhero. 

“Mikasama..!”

Called out Getou; clearly misreading the situation as her having another strop, and trying to deescalate the situation before it lead to another week of her not talking to them.

“Come on; Mika-Chan! It’s not my fault I’m pretty much a God-!”

Grinned Satoru; the boy’s ego now pretty much incomprehensible now he’d found out he was indestructible, only to be cut off by the sound of a sword being drawn.

“Mikasama, what are you doing..?”

Asked Getou hesitantly, Mikasama now holding the katana he’d left on the ground in her hands, the blade unsheathed and glinting menacingly in the sunlight.

“Well; considering we now know that Satoru is pretty much untouchable, I say we test out how strong that forcefield of his actually is…”

She suggested as she inspected the razor sharp blade in the light as if looking for faults, running her finger over the edge.

He saw a hint of red, her skin giving way in the smallest of cuts, before she removed it from the blade and popped it in her mouth with a devilish smile.

“Mikasama, I really don’t think that’s a good idea-“

Objected Getou, already knowing a dangerous game when he saw one, and Mikasama was basically asking them to play Russian Roulette with all the chambers loaded.

“I do.”

Interrupted Satoru; the blonde getting that frightening look in his eye that he got whenever he was about to do something reckless, the boy so certain he was going to live forever that he had no trouble trying to tempt fate.

“Let’s push this thing as far as it will go, and then try for a little more…”

Satoru continued, stepping forward to meet Mikasama in the middle of the courtyard without a hint of fear in his eyes, that ever-present smirk making another appearance as he faced his would-be executioner head on.

“Guys; I really think this is a bad idea…”

Urged Getou, really not wanting to have to watch the girl he cared about most slaughter the boy he cared about most all over something as cheap as pride.

“Bullshit…”

Satoru brushed off his concerns, the blonde standing stock still as Mikasama readied her blade, the girl holding the hilt with both hands in order to get the best swing that was sure to lop his head clean off.

“If my shield fails, Mikasama is sure to give me a clean death. Isn’t that right Mika-Chan..?”

Purred Satoru, blue eyes glimmering behind his sunglasses as he flirted with her and death at the same time.

“Always…”

She replied, her eyes equally intense with focus and perhaps even lust; because nothing got the blood going quite as much as the promise of mortal peril.

Without further warning or contemplation, Mikasama whipped her blade back, swinging the sword in a wide arc that was sure to cut through most Curse’s bodies, never mind Satoru’s neck.

Getou watched helplessly as the steel cut through the air; the blur of silver faster than lightning as it drew in on Satoru without him so much as trying to block.

“Satoru-“

Yelled Getou; reaching out to stop Mikasama even though he knew it would be too late, his heart in his throat as the sword flew towards Satoru’s neck.

CLANNNGGG-!

Mikasama’s sword stopped mere centimetres from Satoru’s neck; the entire blade bending and groaning as if hitting a brick wall, the sudden collision making her arms quake with the aftereffects.

She stumbled, the shield repelling her back as she fell onto her ass, the sword slipping from her fingertips with a loud clash; all whilst Satoru continued standing pretty as if nothing had happened. 

“How the hell is that even possible..?!”

She asked, the girl apparently having expected it to cut clean through, and yet continuing anyway; her lack of concern for Satoru’s life almost worrying, if not for the blonde’s equally as troubling eagerness to try it first.

“I told you! I’m goddamn invincible!”

Grinned Satoru, punching the air in some sort of ill-suited celebration as if this had been some simple Jujutsu exam and not a game of chicken on what was virtually an expressway.

“I wonder what I should try next..? Maybe a truck?! No; a bullet train..!”

The kamikaze blonde continued to scheme; his brush with death apparently not close enough as he began to plan out a hundred ways to die and then survive out loud for them all to hear.

“I’ve got it! I’ll jump off a twelve story building!”

He exclaimed, Getou giving Mikasama a look of ‘look what you’ve done’ only for the girl to shrug, the craziness of Satoru Gojo apparently unlimited by the jaws of death now, thanks to this strange new technique.

“Hey! Mika-Chan!”

Called out the voice of literally the last person she wanted to speak to as she silently walked past the courtyard, not even daring to look back as she already knew the pair of them would be standing there waiting for her to come to them like she was a damn lovesick puppy.

She’d been ignoring them for the past week, and so far despite Satoru’s best efforts, she’d been successful; not having even spoken a word to them the entire time.

She had thought they’d given up, but if the fact that Satoru was currently chasing her down the hall was anything to go by, she’d been wrong.

“Mika-Chan! Wait up!”

He continued to insist, his voice now following her as she went, the dumb blonde far too stupid and persistent to get the message that she wasn’t interested in talking to them.

I mean; why would she, after they lied to her?!

She could already see how little they actually valued her feelings in this weird little pseudo relationship they were in, and she wasn’t about to let herself get hurt just for a pair of pretty boys who told even prettier lies.

“Mika-Chan!!”

Satoru continued to call out her name; this time right behind her as he grabbed hold of her shoulder, Mikasama momentarily thinking of shoving it off, only to decide to spin around and find out what exactly he wanted.

“What?!”

She spat; shooting him a venomous glare that she was pretty sure would burn straight through his head if his sunglasses weren’t in the way.

Luckily, or unluckily for her, Satoru was too much of an airhead to notice, that 2000 watt smile stretching across his perfect face like he was actually pleased to see her.

“Hit me.”

He said; the words completely blindsiding her as she wondered if her subconscious thoughts had somehow managed to infiltrate Satoru’s mind and come out his mouth instead.

“What..?”

She asked, completely confused, because he didn’t just actually ask her to hit him, did he?

“Punch me; try and knock me out. I wanna try something…”

He requested again, and although Satoru was the last person on earth she wanted to do a favour for, the temptation of messing up his pretty face was too damn irresistible.

She let a smile creep across her lips, reeling her hand back for the slap of a century as she let it rip at Satoru’s cheek with all the force of a hundred Mormon Sunday School teachers.

Her open palm honed in on his pretty pale cheek, her fingers practically buzzing in anticipation of striking it, when suddenly her hand stopped.

“What..?!”

She spoke her thoughts out loud; her hand stuck hovering a couple of centimetres away from his skin, feeling as if it was suspended by some unseen force that kept her from going any further.

“The hell..?!”

She continued, trying with more force now to push her hand past stopping point, some unseen barrier keeping her from actually hitting him.

“Haha! See! I told you it would work, Getou!”

Exclaimed Satoru, the blonde apparently having predicted this outcome as Getou slowly approached them from further down the hall.

“Of course it did. We saw that earlier, though I’m still not sure why you asked Mikasama…”

Replied Getou; the dark haired boy the image of calm as always as stood beside them like this was some sort of strategy meeting.

“I needed someone to actually hit me like they mean it; you hold back too much.”

Satoru spoke with an eager grin; the fact that she currently hated his guts meaning nothing to him if he could manipulate force fields around his whole damn body.

“Still; what if it hadn’t worked..?”

Asked Getou; the boy apparently much more reluctant to place his trust in Satoru’s new barier than its user was.

“Then I get a well deserved slap to the face; so what?!”

Shrugged Satoru, surprisingly admitting that a good punch or two was well overdue considering his actions, but he didn’t give her time to be stunned before he asked her for another favour.

“Hey; Mika-Chan. You fancy slapping me around a bit more and helping us test out my barrier..?!”

He asked excitedly; Satoru clearly either having absolute faith in his own abilities, or just a weird fetish for being beaten up, but no matter the reasons, she wouldn’t turn down the chance to throw a punch at him.

“It would be my pleasure…”

She grinned maliciously, already beginning to crack her knuckles in preparation as she followed the pair back towards the courtyard.

“So how’d your dinner date with Daddy go; Mika-Chan..?”

Asked Satoru as he plonked himself down next to her on the cafeteria bench, both him and Getou managing to cage her in as they situated themselves either side of her.

“It went fine…”

She replied as she picked up a piece of mango with her chopsticks and popped it in her mouth, Mikasama not really willing to go into detail about her newest revelation if it only ended in him teasing her.

“Just fine..?”

Asked Getou, picking up on her dismissive tone as he blew on his morning green tea, the dark haired boy ever perceptive when it came to reading her emotions.

“It was good… I found out a lot of things about myself that I didn’t know before, and the food wasn’t half bad…”

She explained, knowing that leaving it at just ‘fine’ would only lead to them continuing to pester her for details.

“What sort of ‘things’?”

Asked Satoru, ears perking up at the thought of secret Yaga family knowledge that their Sensei wouldn’t disclose to the rest of his students.

“Well… I have a brother…”

She said, unsure on what else to call it than that, because that’s how her and Panda were introduced and she could hardly call him a pet.

“A brother?! But Old Man Yaga doesn’t even have a wife?! Unless…”

Exclaimed Satoru; the boy’s mind apparently able to enter dirty territory even when it concerned teachers, but then when was his mind anywhere but the gutter?!

“What’s he like..?”

Asked Getou, quickly changing the subject on how this kid came to be, and instead fixing on her opinion of him.

“He’s small…”

She mused, not really sure of how to explain Panda without the two of them thinking she was hallucinating.

“Cute; really! With a sweet, open nature and a lot of enthusiasm-“

She began to list, trying her best to paint a very human image of the cub without giving away his true nature.

“You met the panda, didn’t you?”

Getou asked point blank, destroying any illusions that she was the only one in the know about Yaga-Sensei’s strange choice of adopted son in one instant.

“You knew?!”

She exclaimed, hardly believing that the pair of them had been leading her on this whole time, just to see if she’d come clean.

“Bahaha! You should’ve seen your face!!”

Burst out Satoru; his laughter filling the whole cafeteria as he struggled not to fall off the bench entirely.

“‘He’s small and cute and fuzzy!’ He’s a panda!!”

He continued to mock in a high pitched falsetto voice, prompting her to give him a hard shove that would’ve pushed him onto the floor if he hadn’t caught himself.

“I can’t believe you guys knew and never told me!”

She berated, turning her frustration back onto Getou as she slapped him hard across the bicep; the firm muscle there making the action strangely satisfying in a thought she didn’t dwell on.

“To be fair; we weren’t sure if he was going to introduce you two, or not…”

Replied Getou, as if they made it any better than it already was; both of them apparently completely comfortable with her being oblivious of Pan-Kun’s existence.

“So you were just going to keep it a secret from me regardless?”

She asked, because if they’d planned that, it was a serious violation of her trust, and she wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

“Well; of course!”

Exclaimed Satoru, seeing no problem in lying to what was essentially his sexual partner over a deeply personal family matter that she had a right to know.

“I mean; Yaga-Sensei is scary as shit, and you can’t honestly expect us to go against him…”

Explained Gojo, a smile still stretched across his pretty blonde face, but she wasn’t smiling anymore.

She got up from the bench, taking her tray with her; because screw them if they thought she was going hungry because of their idiocy.

“Mikasama..?”

Called out Getou, noticing her sudden shift in mood as she was walking away and calling her up on it, though she had no plans in stopping for him whatsoever.

He went to get up and follow, only for Satoru to pull him back down onto the bench.

“Let her go, dude…”

Urged Satoru, the boy speaking sense for the first time in his life as she left the cafeteria, already planning not to speak to the two assholes for a very long time.

“Would you mind passing the Soba; Mika-San..?”

Asked Panda; the bear’s small paws reaching out to take them with almost childlike cuteness.

“No problem; Pan-Kun…”

She replied, passing the bowl of noodles over the low table for her newly revealed baby brother to take.

“Thank you.”

He said, taking the bowl with surprising strength considering his tiny form, before beginning to scoop out large amounts with his chopsticks.

She’d been surprised when she’d found out her father had been referring to a panda, of all things, as his son; thinking that he’d well and truly lost it and begun projecting her childhood love of the black and white creatures onto living things in new and unhealthy ways.

Then he’d explained the situation a little further, and she’d realised her dad wasn’t as crazy as she’d first thought.

“So, let me get this straight, you managed to use your Innate Technique to infuse a real living soul into a… panda..?”

She’d asked, still confused over how such a thing could even be possible considering that a panda was already very much a living thing and not a glorified stuffed toy like her father’s other puppets.

“Three souls; though one already existed in him already.”

He clarified; the fact that this cub’s body possessed the souls of three living things doing little to settle her uneasiness.

“And these extra souls; they somehow allow him the ability… to talk..?”

She continued to question, still wondering what on earth had possessed her father to try such a thing in the first place.

“And to use Cursed Energy, as it stands; though we’re still working on that.”

He replied, as if a talking panda wasn’t enough; he was now telling her he was teaching it Jujutsu Sorcery.

However, regardless of her reservations on the nature of how her new so-called ‘sibling’ had came to be, she’d decided to give him a chance for the sake of family and stay and have dinner with them anyway.

And turned out the kid wasn’t half bad; polite, smart, sweet in an un-annoying sort of way, and it certainly helped that him being a panda made him way cuter than the average seven year old.

“So Mika-San; Dad says now that you’re going to school here, we’re going to see a lot more of each other…”

Panda began to speak, the cub using his tiny pudgy hands to twist his chopsticks until the noodles wrapped around them like spaghetti.

“Is that so..?”

She asked, glancing at the man in question who’d conveniently found his attention wrapped up in picking up a flower shaped carrot with his chopsticks.

“Mhmm…”

Nodded Panda as he shovelled another mouthful of noodles into his mouth, chewing it down at such a speed that she wondered how much faster a bear’s metabolism was in compared to a human’s one.

“He says you can’t live here, since I’ve got your old room, but he says you’ll come over lots and lots for dinner..!”

Panda continued, sounding almost excited about the prospect, even as he picked out the wakame from his soup, his fuzzy brow pulled down into a scowl as he removed the offending greenery from his sight.

“And would you like that, Pan-Kun..?”

She asked, kind of interested in how the child who’d acted as her replacement felt about the original being brought back into their lives.

“Well; yeah!”

He exclaimed happily, his excited movements nearly knocking the bowl flying if not for some quick movements from herself.

“Dad doesn’t normally let me play with other kids, so I get a bit lonely, but now my Big Sister’s here; that’s all gonna change..!”

The kid gushed, clearly more happy to meet her than even her father had been; the tiny bear cub clearly having conjured up an image on what having an older sibling would be like in his head, and hanging onto it with all his little heart.

“I can’t wait to show you all my toys; like Gorilla-Kun and Ele-Chan…”

Panda continued to ramble as he seized her hand in his fuzzy paw, quickly getting up from the table and pulling her up alongside him with surprising strength for such a tiny creature.

“Panda; try not break your sister…”

Called out Masamichi; her father finally choosing now of all times to speak up, after having remained silent all throughout dinner.

“I won’t Dad!”

Panda yelled back as he tugged her towards her childhood bedroom; the tiny cub eager to have a playmate after so many years of being alone.

“So; is it just you and me staying for dinner..?”

Mikasama asked as she finished rehydrating the Soba, reviving the dried noodles in some boiling water whilst probing into what Masamichi had already told her about wanting to introduce her to someone.

“No. There’s one more person.”

He replied as he diced up a block of Tofu into large chunks before scraping them into the soup pot; Masamichi Yaga remaining as illusive as ever as she waited for some elaboration to no avail.

“And what time is that person going to arrive..?”

She asked as she waited for the noodles to finish heating, Mikasama already very much an expert in fishing for information considering her mother had tried to keep both her father and Jujutsu Sorcerer all but secret to her for most of her life.

“Hmm…”

Her father hummed as he looked up from his cooking, clearly not paying much attention to her questioning, otherwise he probably would’ve gotten mad.

“He’s already here…”

He said, turning towards where a long shadow fell from the hallway; their dinner guest apparently having already arrived if his calm reaction was anything to go by.

“He?”

She repeated, confused on how what she’d thought had been an announcement of a new stepmom had turned into a stepdad instead.

“Is dinner ready yet, Dad..?”

Called out a sleepy voice of what must’ve been a young boy from the hallway; the unexpected sound almost stunning Mikasama to silence.

“Dad..?”

She said; confused and quite frankly hurt that her dad could’ve gone off and started another family in secret after practically ignoring her for all these years.

“Mikasama; I’d like you to meet your younger brother; Panda…”

Her father spoke, stepping out from the kitchen to introduce the small childlike figure who’d emerged from the hallway to meet her.

“Panda..?”

She repeated, wondering if her father had finally lost it all together, only to be greeted with the sight of a tiny black and white bear standing on its hind legs like a human child.

“Well here we go…”

Mikasama muttered to herself, already standing alone outside what had once been her childhood home; the orange glow of the setting sun making her feel like she’d been transported back in time.

She hadn’t even bothered to change out of her uniform, so unsure of what she was even meant to do at these things that she decided to continue to present herself as the student to her teacher; the lines of Sensei and Father far too blurred in her family to separate the two.

She walked up to the porch, bracing her hand to knock, only to stop herself.

What was she even supposed to say?!

‘Hi Dad. The food smells good. By the way; why are you suddenly choosing now of all times to act like a father? You’re at least ten years late for that, don’t ya think?!’

No; there was no rational or sane way to ask why he’d suddenly changed his mind on what consisted of a healthy father-daughter relationship. 

She was better off suffering the whole dinner in silence, before heading home knowing they’d never try this again.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

She wrapped her knuckles on the door, waiting as she overheard the clatter of kitchen utensils, and a few muttered curses as her father made his way over to the front door.

“You’re early.”

He said as he slid open the front door; not starting with so much as a ‘hello’ before he began throwing accusations at her.

“No. I’m actually just on time…”

She replied, checking her watch just in case he had the ability to manipulate time itself, but finding she was still right.

“Damn it. My clock must be slow…”

He muttered, staring daggers up at the offending timepiece she was pretty sure had been there since she’d lived here.

“Well; I’ve still not finished up dinner yet, but come in and make yourself comfortable…”

He instructed, stepping away from the door and heading back into the kitchen as if expecting her to let herself in.

She guessed there were no prizes for guessing where her guest etiquette came from…

“Smells good…”

She complimented, catching a whiff of what must’ve been miso as her dad continued to ignore her in favour of concentrating on his dinner prep.

“You haven’t redecorated..?”

She asked; the question phrased as more of a statement as she began looking around the familiar decor of the combined kitchen-diner.

“I haven’t had time…”

He replied as he continued to dice up some potatoes; the man focusing intensely on the task at hand as if it was a battle.

It seems her father really wasn’t much of a conversationalist outside of class either, and if she didn’t think up something to say fast, this entire dinner was going to be incredibly awkward.

“I remember these..!”

She remarked as she spied a set of Nesting Dolls on one of the side cabinets; her father’s house containing much more clutter than the average Japanese home, but then she supposed he was never much of a one for conformity.

“You brought them back for Mom from Russia…”

She replied as she picked one up; the joy on her mother’s face when she realised there was an entire series of dolls inside etched into her memory forever.

“Put them back. They’re delicate.”

Commanded her father; the man now moving onto the onions as he finely chopped the long green stems into strips.

“You know; this whole cooking thing would go a lot faster if you’d let me help…”

She suggested, following his instructions as she put down the tchotchske and made her way over to the kitchen counter.

For a moment, she thought he was going to refuse her and ask her to sit down in silence until the meal was ready.

“Do you know how to peel carrots..?”

He asked as if she was a completely useless kid, though judging by how little Masamichi actually knew about her upbringing, he may well have actually thought that.

“Have been all my life…”

She replied with a smile, already moving in to the kitchen area ready to prove that Momma didn’t raise no fool when it came to cooking.

“Good; there’s a bagful over there. See if you can peel a couple of them, then dice them.”

He said, signalling to the paper bag on the kitchen counter with his knife, before returning to chopping.

“As you command, Sensei…”

She said with a dramatic curtsy, spinning round to get a start on those carrots before they both died of starvation.

“When a powerful Curse above a Grade 1 is cornered, they may choose to activate their Innate Domain in order to get a last minute upper hand over a fight…”

Lectured her father from the front of the class; their Sensei spending the past twenty minutes listing and explaining Cursed Techniques to any of the class that were still listening to him.

“Once within their Domain, any attacks that the Curse makes are guaranteed to hit at maximum damage, so any countering measures are considered obsolete…”

He continued stoically as he began to draw out some diagrams on the board, Mikasama’s mind already too busy elsewhere to concentrate on the correct way to fight a Curse within a prison of its own making.

“Pssst…”

Hissed Satoru from across the class; the boy having long been moved for being a nuisance as he refused to take his eyes off her throughout the entire lesson.

“Mika-Chan…”

He whispered, tossing a note onto her desk in a much less graceful style than Seguru; the dark-haired Sorcerer apparently too busy making notes to scold his disruptive roommate.

Still; she unfolded the note, ironing out the creases with her hand as she took in Satoru’s scruffy handwriting:

“DO YOU WANT TO COME OVER AND HAVE DINNER TONIGHT?;)”

She almost rolled her eyes; the handjob having apparently done nothing but stoke the blonde’s interest in her as she crumpled the note back up, shaking her head in response.

“To have a chance of defeating a Curse within their innate domain, a Sorcerer must either overpower them; a difficult task that would be challenging for even the most experienced of Jujutsu Users, or break out of the domain; something which is virtually impossible…”

Her father continued to lecture as Satoru ripped another page out of his exercise book, scribbling down another message before tossing it at her.

She sighed, already understanding that the boy’s persistence was part of the reason she’d got tied up with him anyway.

“I COULD RETURN THE FAVOUR:P”

Of course; he’d offer that, the blonde chewing on his bottom lip as he shifted in his seat, Satoru apparently physically unable to sit still in class, though whether that was due to his brain working in overdrive or not she couldn’t decide.

“Mikasama..!”

Her father called out, her eyes shooting to the front of the class in fear they’d been caught passing notes again.

“I need to speak with you outside of class; the rest of you can actually make some notes about Domain Expansion instead of just pretending…”

He instructed, eyes landing on a doodling Satoru Gojo who was currently drawing some crude dick illustrations on the inside of his exercise book.

Mikasama followed Masamichi outside of their classroom, the man closing the door and turning to face her with ominous intention that just told her she was about to get yelled at.

“I’m sorry for disrupting the lesson…”

She apologised, deciding it was better to get this over with and spare herself some of the earache later.

“What?!”

Replied Masamichi; his already creased brows lowering even further as he addressed her with a look of confusion.

“Me and Satoru were passing notes in class instead of paying attention…”

She clarified; taking his response as a test to see if she’d actually admit to her wrongdoings, or if she was just apologising for the sake of it.

“Oh; that?! I’m not here to talk to you about that.”

He replied, brushing off her and Satoru’s rule breaking as a minor inconvenience; though she guessed with their joint history, it was just that.

“Then what did you call me out of class for?”

She asked, now completely in the dark, because he was hardly the type of teacher to call her out just for a friendly chat.

“I wanted to invite you for dinner.”

He informed her; Mikasama apparently incredibly popular when it came to dinner plans, though of course they were for very different reasons.

“Dinner? Like at a restaurant?”

She asked, utterly out of her depth here, because since when did they have dinner?!

That was something normal families did, and the Yaga family was anything but normal.

“I was actually going to have you come to the house. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

He replied; this entire conversation sounding strangely like a set up to meet a new stepmom, but she supposed if he was going to throw another absentee parent on her, she may as well get some free food out of it.

“Okay. When?”

She asked, not used to having to play civil with her dad outside of classes. 

Their relationship was polite; removed. 

The sort of thing you expected between god-parents and half-siblings when they only saw each other at Christmas and family gatherings.

“How about tonight?”

He asked, Masamichi strangely giving her a lot of leeway when he could very much demand it of her.

“Tonight works.”

She nodded, kind of relieved to have a legitimate excuse to get out of Satoru’s‘Desert and a Show’ invitations for one night.

“Good. If you swing by at around 7 o’clock, that would be good.”

He said as he held open the classroom door for her, the entire thing sounding almost like a father-daughter dinner date, if her and Masamichi were the type to have those.

“Are you actually going to do anything, or are you going to just tease..?”

Asked Satoru; the question turning into a groan between clenched teeth as her hand hovered dangerously over his crotch, the heat of his skin practically sweltering beneath the thin cloth of his towel.

“And who’s to say that you actually deserve any relief..?”

She asked as she felt him angle his hips into her hand, hard-on brushing against her fingers as if begging for her to take it.

“I’m Satoru Gojo! I always deserve relief…”

He replied cockily, that strong superiority complex not even lost when he was completely at her mercy; Mikasama wondering if restraints might be the way to go next time around. 

“Satoru…”

Warned a Getou as Satoru angled his hips up and towards her hands; the boy not planning to play by her rules even if it risked him being blue balled entirely.

“What?! I’m not doing anything?!”

Exclaimed Satoru with a not-so-innocent grin, her fingers brushing up against the skin of his cock as he practically grew to meet her; the blonde’s entire body playing into his antics as she refused to touch him.

“You better play nice…”

Advised Getou as she began to withdraw her hand; deciding to at least call his bluff if Satoru was going to misbehave so badly.

“Wait; wait! What do you want me to do?! Do you want me to beg?!”

He panicked as she stopped her hand from moving, intrigued by how quickly Satoru could go from cocky to desperate within seconds.

“Then beg…”

She said as she stared right back into those bright blue eyes, knowing better than to be drawn in by the shade of sky he kept hostage there.

“Please, Mika-Chan! Please will you touch me?! Please-“

Satoru begged so prettily; his pleading turning into a hiss as she finally gave in and wrapped her fingers around him, actually surprised that his thickness was almost as impressive as his length.

Satoru Gojo was clearly gifted in more than just Sorcery, that’s for sure.

“Thank fuck…”

He hissed as she began to stroke him up and down, his warm skin velvety smooth beneath her fingertips as he grew to his full impressive length.

“Thank who..?”

She questioned as she let her thumb slip up over the tip; his head leaking just enough pre-cum to help lubricate her fingers more, each long stroke drawing a hiss from Satoru’s picture perfect lips.

“Thank you Mikasama… Thank you so much…”

Muttered Satoru; his breaths turning into pants as he began to rock his hips into her; the blonde practically fucking her hand as he began to show his appreciation through open mouthed kisses to her clothed chest.

“You enjoying yourself, Satoru..?”

Asked Getou, watching the whole thing with veiled amusement as his roommate mewled and purred against Mikasama’s chest; his tongue leaving wet patches that soaked through her uniform and made her nipples stiffen into peaks beneath.

“Fuck yeah; this is so good…”

Moaned Satoru against her as she picked up the pace, eyes screwing shut as he lost himself to the sensation of her hand and the softness of her breasts.

“Are you gonna finish him off..?”

Asked Getou, this time talking to her as Satoru managed to suck one of her nipples into his mouth through her shirt, sharp teeth worrying it until she knew it would be sore come morning.

“I havent… huh… decided yet…”

She replied in a soft breath; Satoru’s efforts actually managing to make her feel breathless, even as he thrust sloppily into her palm.

“Fuck! I think I’m gonna finish!”

Exclaimed Satoru in a hoarse cry; his eyes screwed shut as she could feel him throbbing under his skin as his body tightened in preparation for his climax.

“Should I let him..?”

She asked Getou; kind of enjoying seeing him so close to the edge with his red flushed cheeks and tight muscles working with each move of his hips.

“Down to you…”

Shrugged Getou, eyes fixed on where her hand disappeared between them, Satoru’s breathing turning rough and uneven as he began to spurt in her hand without warning.

“Fuck…”

He cursed as she felt a warm sticky sensation flood over her palm, Satoru’s entire body twitching as he came hard beneath her fingertips.

“That was… fucking incredible…”

Panted Satoru as he began to recover; probably overreacting considering it was just a handie, but she appreciated the compliment anyway.

“Good; now get the hell off me!”

She replied as she wiped her hand on the front of his towel, withdrawing it from the space between them, only for Satoru to catch it with one hand.

“Thanks Mika-Chan…”

He smirked, pressing her sticky palm to his lips for a kiss, before letting his tongue dart out for a lick; the entire image pretty obscene considering what had been covering it mere seconds ago.

“Mhmmm… Now go have another shower…”

She hummed, not buying into his seduction techniques in the slightest as he sprung off her to go wash bodily fluids off himself for a second time.

“You should’ve had him beg more…”

Getou said as they both watched Satoru make his way back over to the bathroom, the boy almost seeming to swagger now he’d had his dick stroked.

“I should’ve, but he’s just too pretty…”

She replied with a smile, already hearing the rush of the water turning on as Satoru burst out into a dramatic cover of I’ve Just Had Sex.

————————————————————

“Mhmmm..! Mikasama; this is so good! You gotta try this!”

Insisted Satoru as he waved a half-eaten piece of Inari in her face, practically trying to force it into her mouth with his chopsticks.

“I don’t want your half-eaten food, Satoru!”

She objected, trying to wave it away even as he continued to hold it to her lips, the man impossible to reason with over even the stupidest of things.

“Come on! I only nibbled on it! Just try it; please…”

He continued to pester, seemingly more concerned with having her share his dinner than finishing her own, but then what did she expect from Satoru Gojo?!

“Fine…”

She gave in; taking the whole thing in in one big sharklike bite if only to shut him up for a little bit; the dumpling-like tofu far too chewy to be classed as Sushi.

“Happy?!”

She asked as she chewed it over slowly, not really liking the semi-sweet flavour of the rice that drew him to it every time they went out to eat.

“Very…”

Smiled Satoru, finally going back to eating his own damn food as she continued to de-shell her edamame.

 “So Gojo-Sensei; you and Mikasama-San must have known each other for a very long time…”

Commented Yuji, as she focused on splitting a pod open with her blunt nails, the beans almost annoying fiddly to deal with if not for her love of what they held inside.

“It’s no wonder you make such a good couple..!”

He complemented innocently, the outlandish suggestion causing her to squeeze the bean pod too tight and spray edamame half way across the table.

“Oh; we’re not-“

Objected Mikasama, understanding how her and Gojo’s relationship could be mistaken as a romantic one, and admittedly once upon a time, it was; but that was no longer the case.

“We do, don’t we?!”

Interrupted Satoru with one of those shit-eating grins that had her wanting to throw her miso soup in his face.

“Me and Mika-Chan here have been together since we were about your age! Completely inseparable!”

He continued to lay it on thick, squeezing her tightly to his side as if to emphasise the point; the two years when she’d left him apparently going forgotten in his thick-ass skull.

“That’s adorable!”

Smiled Yuji; only prompting Satoru to hold her tighter as he leant his head on her shoulder, the blonde putting on a show of snuggling against her all whilst she sat as stonily as Megumi.

And speaking of Megumi; it seemed her sullen-faced saviour had come to her rescue once more.

“So Mikasama-San; how did you think Itadori and Kugisaki did in their test earlier..?”

Asked said dark-haired student as he picked at the ebi on top of his nigiri, thankfully giving her out from any more love-bombing from Satoru.

“It was… passable…”

She answered, trying to think of the best way to summarise the students’ efforts without insulting them.

“Both Nobara and Yuji demonstrated excellent combat skill, though I believe their strategy and communication could definitely use some work…”

She continued; remembering how quickly the two had decided to split up without so much as a game plan on what to do if they encountered a Curse.

“But we did exorcise the Curse, and that’s what counts; right..?”

Asked Nobara as she swatted away Yuji’s chopsticks, the boy reaching across to steal one of her Uramaki rolls even though he’d already steamrolled through two bowls of miso ramen.

“You did, but you also put that child’s life at risk, and Yuji needed assistance in exorcising his own Curse…”

She replied, moving on to constructive criticism as she finished off the last of her pink Sake; the sharp flavour washing away the last of the Inari taste from her mouth. 

“But for a couple of newbies, we were pretty awesome; right?!”

Exclaimed Yuji as he threw an arm over Nobara’s shoulder, rocking her back and forth in a friendly gesture she could tell the girl didn’t appreciate much.

“Awesome isn’t exactly the word I’d use…”

She chuckled, deeply amused at the reluctant friendship she could already see blooming between their three students; the explosive dynamic between them reminding her a little of their own back in the day, though God she hoped it didn’t end the same.

“Now; who’s ready for desert?!”

Interrupted Gojo; the man having already scarfed down three planeloads of sushi, and yet was still hungry for more.

“Me!”

“Satoru..!”

Mikasama exclaimed; instantaneously moving at least a foot away from Getou as if they’d actually been doing something dirty, rather than just thinking about making out.

“We weren’t doing anything…”

Getou added, looking equally as flustered with being walked in on, but the bulge in his pressed black trousers ruined any arguments of innocent intentions considering he was most definitely aroused.

“Mhmmm…”

Hummed Satoru, clearly not convinced as he crossed his strong arms across a surprisingly built chest; the motion drawing attention to the obvious muscles of his pectorals that popped up between his biceps.

“Then I guess you won’t mind if I get a drink then…”

He continued, hopping over the couch in a clean leap that she was pretty sure flashed her some balls, Satoru caring very little for modesty, but then what exactly had she been expecting from the serial kiss stealer?!

“Satoru; we weren’t actually going to do anything…”

Getou continued to try and play the innocent, his roommate already bending over as he rooted into their fridge; the hem of his towel skirt riding up high enough that she saw a dangerous amount of the back of Satoru’s long lean thighs.

“Sure; I believe you…”

Drawled Satoru, sounding the furthest thing from convinced as he crouched down to better see the bottom shelves, legs spreading wide in a way she was sure was going to give a chill to his most intimate parts.

“Hey; have either of you drunk my melon soda..?”

He asked, even though he knew perfectly well he’d drunk it this morning; the tall blonde swivelling to face them and thus giving both her and Getou a direct view of his privates.

“Satoru..!”

She complained, covering her eyes as she threw a pillow at him; not quite believing she’d managed to befriend someone who was quite this much of an exhibitionist.

“What..?!”

Satoru replied, finally closing his legs as he stood back up, acting as if he’d not just intentionally flashed them his dick and balls.

“I just wanna know what happened to my soda..?”

He continued to play dumb, even if the slight smirk on his face gave him away completely, the pretty blonde leaning on the fridge door in a way she was sure would break it off the hinges if he wasn’t careful.

“You knew exactly what you were doing; you damn perv!”

She exclaimed, finally deeming it safe to lower her hand completely as she lobbed another pillow at him; Satoru managing to catch this one against his chest as he grinned and chuckled at her protests.

“It’s not funny; you asshole..!”

She yelled, picking up a third pillow with the full intention of aiming it at his face; the grinning idiot clearly in dire need for that smile to be wiped off his dumb face.

“Well; it is pretty funny…”

Agreed Getou, turning on her even as he had his arm draped over her shoulder; the dark haired boy catching a chuckle in his hand as if it was a cough.

“No; it’s not! You’re both fucking perverts!”

She argued; choosing instead to redirect her wrath onto the closer target, slapping Getou hard with the pillow, just for him to guard against her assault with his forearms.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about; do you, Getou?”

Asked Satoru as he meandered around the couch, seeming quite happy with seeing the tables turned as Mikasama fought Seguru instead of him.

“Not at all!”

Chuckled Getou, leaning away from Mikasama as she continued to attack him with the pillow, the girl putting her full body strength into each hit as she tried to beat him into submission.

“Exactly! If anything; Mika-Chan’s the perv for trying to look up my skirt…”

Satoru accused with one of those shit-eating grins, the infuriating blonde now standing in front of them on the couch as if he was about to perform a strip tease; though with Satoru’s track record, she guessed nothing was out of bounds.

“You flashed me!”

She yelled back; already perfectly aware they were just trying to wind her up, but taking the bait anyway; both Satoru and Getou knowing exactly how to push all of her most sensitive buttons.

“And I suppose you not being able to take your eyes off my chest since I got here is my fault too..?”

Asked Satoru, actually managing to catch her out there, because yes; whether she meant to or not; she hadn’t stopped staring at his firm chest and washboard abs since he left the bathroom.

And even now he looked tempting; strong muscular arms crossed lazily across his chest in a way that only made them look stronger, the deep V of his hip bones making her feel filthy for wondering how they looked further down.

And even worse, he knew it; bright blue eyes glinting over the navy of his sunglasses, a knowing smirk pulling up one side of his face as he gave her that look that dared her to contradict him.

“You know what; I’m leaving…”

She pleaded the fifth, getting up from the couch to make a quick exit before he commented on the deep shade of scarlet that was beginning to flood across her cheeks.

“Mikasama-!” - “Mika-Chan-!”

They both called out, Getou going as far as to catch her wrist before she could walk away, his fingers keeping a soft but firm grip on her that she knew she could break out of if she really wanted to.

“No; you guys are being dicks…”

She complained, yet still she let Getou pull her back down onto the couch, her head landing on his lap once more as she found her way back into her previous position before Satoru had so rudely interrupted them.

“Satoru’s being a dick; I’m trying to be nice…”

Seguru replied, leaning forwards so he could stare down directly at her with those long cat eyes, loose strands of his hair hanging down and into her face as he reached down and cupped her cheek, thumbs tracing her cheekbones with almost delicate reverence.

“Then why are you taking his side..?”

She whined, still not swatting his hand away even though he fully deserved it, but she could give Getou some leeway if it pissed Satoru off.

“I’m not taking sides; I’m just pointing out that you seemed to be enjoying the view as much as I am…”

He replied; Seguru somehow managing to play peacemaker and phrase it in a way that didn’t make her feel like a voyeur as he leaned his head down, nose brushing her own in what was some sort of hybrid butterfly kiss that made her feel like they’d been doing this for years.

“Well; yeah! Of course I am..! How can I not when he walks around looking like that?!”

She admitted as she waved a hand accusingly at a half-naked Satoru; not seeing the point in lying to them when they both knew that Gojo had a way of getting her hot and bothered even when she didn’t want it.

“You’re right; he’s being a tease…”

Agreed Getou as he leaned in closer, soft lips brushing against her own in a ghost of a kiss; and she could see the game he was playing now, and she’d already decided she wanted to join in.

“Am not!”

Objected Gojo; taking mild offence at the suggestion he didn’t plan to deliver on each and every sexy promise he’d wordlessly dangled in front of her since they’d first met.

“I know; right! He’s so mean! He strips down until he’s practically naked than expects us to sit around and watch him drink a soda..!”

She complained to Getou; liking this plan already, especially if Satoru kept making that indignant face every time Getou leaned down to kiss her.

“Oh, come on..! You know I was just joking…”

Whined Satoru; his voice actually sounding strained now, and she had a feeling their plan was working.

“He’s the worse; we should just head over to your room and continue without him…”

Suggested Getou, and even though they made no move to get up off the couch, Satoru was still there in an instant, kneeling down next to them as if ready to stop them at any moment.

“Wait! Don’t leave! I can be nice…”

Pleaded Satoru as grabbed ahold of her hand, holding it close enough to his mouth to kiss, and with the pure honesty in his bright blue eyes, she couldn’t tell if he was toying with them or not.

“Hmmm… I don’t think I believe you; you’ll have to prove it…”

Mused Mikasama, and the opening alone prompted Satoru to clamber up on the couch and across her legs, the blonde looking ready to straddle her any minute.

“I can be nice! Let be nice, Mika-Chan, and you can tell me what you want…”

Rambled Satoru as he practically lay down on top of her with very little regard for his lack of clothing, the usually stubborn boy showing a very different side to himself that she really hadn’t expected.

“Do you want me to kiss you? Do you want me to make you feel good?”

He asked with eager blue eyes, head settling over small valley of her breast, as he managed to plant a kiss on the skin there between the holes in her buttoned uniform.

“You could put his mouth to good use; that might actually shut him up…”

Suggested Getou from above; a teasing smirk spread across his usually stoic face as Saturo continued to mutter wordless promises against her clothed skin, adventurous hands skimming up the sides of her stomach as he began to try and feel her up through her clothes.

“Good suggestion, but I’d much rather he behaved himself…”

She replied as she took in the needy blonde, allowing herself to let her hand run through his snow white hair; cuing an almost catlike purr from him.

“Satoru?! Behave himself?! I don’t think that’s gonna happen…”

Advised Getou as he watched her continue to run a hand down the back of his neck, following the smoothly muscled rise of his shoulders, before sailing down the slight dip of his spine, Satoru Gojo arching into her touch as if he was a cat getting stroked.

“We’ll see…”

Mused Mikasama as she let her hand glide over his latts, sliding down between them so her fingers to coast over his abs; Satoru humming into the her shoulder contentedly as she repaid him for all the teasing he’d done to her over the past few weeks.

“If he does; he might even get a reward…”

She muttered as her hand dipped lower, finding its way under the towel to what he hid beneath as Gojo’s eyes shot open, suddenly aware that they weren’t playing a game anymore.

———————————————————

“Everyone order as much as you like; sushi is on me!”

Exclaimed Satoru as their three students wedged themselves into one side of the narrow booths that occupied SushiGo! both Yuji and Nobara fighting over who got to sit on the side closest to the bullet train.

“No way! That so generous of you, Gojo-Sensei!”

Praised Yuji, and if she hadn’t spent the past couple of days getting to know the kid, she’d say he was just kissing ass; but unfortunately he really was that eager.

“It’s honestly no problem! That’s just the kind of Sensei I am!”

Replied a falsely humble Satoru as he squeezed himself in next to her at the other side of the booth; his ridiculously long legs leaving her virtually no room as he caged her in against the conveyer belt.

“He means he’s going to expense it.”

Deadpanned Megumi; their oldest student always willing to ruin the image of the oh-so-generous Sensei almost as much as she was.

“Well; still it’s really nice of you both regardless…”

Grinned Yuji, the boy picking up his wooden chopsticks and breaking them in half, before clicking them together as if testing them.

“Well; we kinda had to eat anyway, otherwise Mika-Chan gets angry…”

Hinted Satoru conspiratorially; earning himself a harsh glare as she stabbed his hand with her chopsticks.

“See what I mean…”

He groaned as he rubbed at his hand; her attack leaving a red mark that she hoped would bruise come morning.

Regardless of Gojo’s dumb comments and her inability to escape them, the kids were already wrapped up in their menu’s, the three of them eagerly scrolling through the table’s built in touchscreen tablets as they began trying to decide what to eat.

“Wow! There’s so much choice! I honestly don’t know what to order…”

Said Yuji; the boy currently staring at what looked like a series of Dragon Rolls shaped into what seems to be a dragon itself.

“Well, I do! I’m having this and this and this…”

Grinned Nobara as she rapidly began ordering three of the most expensive dishes on the menu with little regard of whether she was going to finish it or not.

“What about you, Mika-Chan..? You see anything that you’d like a taste of..?”

Asked Satoru, one arm thrown over the back of her half of the bench, tongue peaking out to lick at his lips just in case she didn’t know he wasn’t talking about the food.

“I think I’ll have a beer…”

She said as she punched in the order for an Asahi and some edamame, already knowing the man hated any alcohol that wasn’t basically liquid candy and hoping it might keep his lips off her tonight.

“A beer?!”

Objected Satoru, giving her the exact indignant reaction she’d been expecting as she continued to casually scroll through the drinks menu.

“You’re right. A sake would be better…”

She continued, switching out the Asahi for a semi-sweet rose sake that wouldn’t offend the blonde’s pallets so heinously.

“Are you gonna order, Fushiguro?”

Asked Yuji, spying across Nobara at their silent and broody classmate as he hovered at the edge of the bench like the classic goth teenager at a family gathering; and come to think if it, anyone else watching may have very well mistaken her and Satoru for a very young couple and their three bickering kids.

“Already have.”

He replied just as the toot of the SushiGo!’s famed bullet train sounded off, a scale model of Japan’s most recognisable form of public transport racing along the conveyer belt towards them with a series of drinks stacked on its back.

“Woah! That is so cool!”

Exclaimed Yuji as the train slowed to a stop beside their table, the speed deescalation surprisingly smooth as it managed to reach a halt without so much as jolting their drinks.

“Meh; I’ve seen cooler…”

Shrugged Nobara, but even with her crossed arms and feigned disinterest, Mikasama saw the way her eyes lit up on sight of the train.

“All right kids! A toast to your future at Jujutsu Tech!”

Exclaimed Satoru as he snatched his watermelon soda off the train; the man honestly disgusting her with his choice of sushi accompaniments.

“To fighting Curses!”

Toasted Yuji as he raised up his can of Coke, Gojo apparently not the only one with kamikaze love of battle.

“To Harijuku shopping trips!”

Added Nobara; the girl once again acting on brand as she raised up her overpriced sparkling Yuzu water.

“To getting this over with…”

Mumbled Megumi, making the only toast she would actually drink to, the kid barely bothering to lift his can of ginger ale at all.

And with toasts made, they all clinked their drinking receptacles together before taking a swig.

“Pfffft!”

Spat Satoru, practically spraying his students with a stream of soda, before inspecting the label of his bottle with revulsion.

“This is disgusting! What the hell is this crap?!”

“Wow… I am completely pooped..!”

Yawned Mikasama as she flopped down on the boys’ couch, caring very little whether she stained it with blood or not.

“You know; you should probably go take a shower…”

Replied Getou; no insult intended due to her arms and uniform being thoroughly coated in gore, and yet somehow the brunette had managed to stay relatively stain-free; the only blood on him being an almost aesthetic splatter across his face which he easily washed away over the kitchenette sink.

“I would, but somebody is already in yours, and I can’t be bothered to walk all the way down the hall…”

She complained as she stretched out on the couch cushions, slowly twisting her neck until it popped as she worked out all the kinks the fight had put into her.

“I’m sure Satoru wouldn’t complain if you joined him…”

Suggested Getou as he made his way over to the couch; his lack of smirk doing nothing to convince her of the innocence in that statement, Seguru Getou still very much in possession of a dirty mind when he wanted it.

“And I’m sure it wouldn’t bother you at all if the two of us got all sudsy in the shower without you…”

She drawled as she let an arm fall over her tired eyes, the fight thoroughly taking all the energy out of her as Seguru settled down on the couch next to her.

“What makes you think I wouldn’t just join in..?”

He teased softly as she lifted her head on top of his lap; the boy’s well formed thighs making a far better cushion for her aching head than she’d expected.

“As if you’d dare…”

She teased right back as he ran a hand through her hair, long elegant fingers beginning to massage her scalp in a circular motion that made her feel divine.

“I can be just as bold as Satoru when I’m so inclined…”

He informed her with a gentle smile, those heavenly fingers working wonders against the headache that was brewing behind her eyes.

“I’ll believe it - uh..! - when I see it…”

She moaned as he began to really work his fingers into her scalp; her body practically melting into a puddle on the couch as his hands performed some sort of magic she didn’t know Jujutsu Sorcerers were capable of.

This is what both alarmed her, and attracted her about Getou.

How he could be both so reserved and composed, yet so seductive and suggestive; the boy striking the perfect balance between a prude in public, and a tease behind closed doors as he brought her to ecstasy with his fingers alone.

“Uahhh… Seguru…”

She moaned softly as he continued with his spine-tingling ministrations; his actions triggering noises that were far too pornographic for a simple massage, something that was definitely having just as much of an affect in her masseuse judging by the sudden unevenness of her cushion.

“Your hands are magic…”

She praised him without reservations, kind of enjoying that the usually unflappable Sorcerer wasn’t able to hide the fact it was making him hot under the collar; the bulge in his pants betraying him even as he shifted in his seat in an attempt to make it less noticeable.

“Then just imagine what else they’d be good at…”

He drawled huskily, his magic hands moving from her scalp to her cheek as one of his thumbs brushed against her lips, Mikasama opening her mouth to allow him entry as he pushed in just the tip; his already dark eyes dilating until they were completely black.

She let her tongue brush against the pad of his thumb, teeth pressing down the tiniest amount so he could just feel the pressure; the boy’s breath catching as she turned the tables and leaned up with the intent of kissing him.

“Mikasama…”

He muttered her name in what was almost a plea; eyes now falling to her lips as he drew in, thumb still not moving from her mouth as he parted his lips to kiss her.

“Well, well, well… Don’t let me interrupt anything…”

Interrupted the annoyingly seductive voice of Satoru Gojo, drawing both her and Getou’s attention away from each other, only to realise that the blonde had one-upped them both by walking out of the bathroom in nothing but a pair of sunglasses and a very tiny hand towel.

“Hey;  Getou-Kun..?”

Called out Satoru as he caught a Curse that was easily ten times his size by the arm; his brunette partner pausing from wiping some blood from his eyes that she was pretty sure wasn’t his.

“Batter up..!”

Grinned Satoru as he swung the Curse round by its arm like a pendulum, releasing his hold at the last second to send it barrelling towards Getou.

And even with ten tonnes of Curse hurtling at him, Getou didn’t flinch; just raised his sword like a baseball bat and swung, cleaving deep into Curse’s stomach so it had no choice but to hold on less it’s guts come out.

“SCRIEEEEEH!”

Screamed the Curse; blood pulsing from its deep stomach wound and spurting through its fingertips; it’s densely muscled form practically shaking from pain and exhaustion as it collapsed to its knees on the forest floor.

“I think that classes as a home run; don’t you Mika-Chan?”

Asked Satoru, a wide smirk on his cocky face; the boy having been playing hot potato with them for the past twenty minutes with the Curse playing the part of the ball.

“I don’t think you guys really understand the concept of baseball…”

Replied Mikasama; this really not the time or place to explain the intricacies of the innings and outings of America’s favourite pastime.

Still; the Curse was all but done for, the sheer amount of blood lost over their battle enough to bathe the Sea of Trees in red as Getou and Satoru slowly cut the Curse down to size, limb by limb.

Now it was left shaking and heaving, the sight almost pitiful to behold as a once powerful and terrifying Curse slowly bled out into the underbrush like a gutted pig.

“So Satoru-Chan; you wanna do the honours..?”

Asked Getou fondly, holding his blade out for the boy to take and put an end to the beast’s misery, only for Mikasama to intercept it.

“No… I’ll do it…”

She replied, redrawing her blood soaked blade from its sheath as she stepped forward, raising her sword up high above its back.

“Hruughh!

She grunted as she thrust the sword down with as much force as she could muster; the blade slicing clean through its chest and straight out the other side until it hit the dirt; the thin steel of her katana embedding itself in the earth below.

“Scrieeeegh.!”

Squealed the Curse; letting out one last dying cry as blood spilled from its open mouth, it’s eyes growing still and glassy as it finally fell limp.

“There… it’s dead…”

Said Mikasama, pulling the sword out from the Curse’s corpse, it’s blade now tinged a horrible sickly black from the Curse’s blood.

“Nice going Mika-Chan..!”

Praised Satoru, the blonde coming over to squeeze her into an awkward one-armed hug as she fruitlessly tried to clean the blood from her blade on the Curse’s back.

“Your first real kill! How’d it feel? Good; right..?”

He continued to ask; his blood-soaked uniform staining her own as she continued to stare down blankly at the slowly disintegrating Curse.

“It felt…”

She began, trying to summarise the emptiness she felt staring down at that pitiful beast, and yet being unable to find the words.

Satoru seemed almost excited by the slaughter; his impossibly wide grin looking scarily feral beneath the blood smeared across his pale skin and white hair.

Even Getou appeared completely relaxed, a soft half smile on his face as he gently rubbed at the coagulated splatter that marred his delicate cheekbones as if it was no more than sweat.

How could this be normal for them?!

How could they get up every morning knowing they may have to murder something by their own hands, and keep smiling like it didn’t even matter?!

Maybe it didn’t…

Maybe these Curses, whatever they might’ve once been, were now nothing but shells of their former beings; soulless puppets of humanity’s baser sins that deserved to be punished and eradicated..?

Regardless, Curse or not, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be okay with that…

“Cold.”

She finally answered with resolute finality; the word the only one that felt right, even as Satoru and Getou celebrated beside her; her closest friends showing the true monster that lay just below the surface of every Jujutsu Sorcerer.

“I… can’t believe we’re actually here…”

Admitted Mikasama; her voice barely above a whisper as she let her eyes wander over the towering treetops surrounding them, their colossal peaks making even Satoru seem small by comparison.

“Well; hopefully we won’t have to be for too long, if our intel was correct…”

Getou said; the brunette always remaining strangely calm, even when walking virtually unarmed into the most notorious forrest in Japan.

“But still; are neither of you feeling… strange..?”

She asked, her hands rubbing at the goosebumps prickling beneath her sleeves; her entire body on high alert from the moment they set foot in the Sea of Trees, and yet she couldn’t seem to find the reason.

“Why? You scared we’re gonna see a dead body..?”

Grinned Satoru; now having swapped back to his sunglasses as he strutted carelessly ahead, the boy apparently not phased in the slightest by their gloomy surroundings.

“Mikasama; don’t worry yourself too much. The rangers have already done their rounds this morning, so finding any corpses along this path is very unlikely…”

Assured Getou; the boy giving her a gentle smile that was meant to put her mind at ease, but it wasn’t the possibility of seeing dead people that was putting her on edge.

“No; it’s not that. It’s… something else…”

She said, her eyes flickering suspiciously at the elongated shadows in the distance; her mind playing tricks on her in the darkness. 

It felt as if the trees were watching their every move; their long skeletal forms like sentinels as the three of them slowly made their way through their domain.

“Shit…”

Cursed Satoru; both her and Getou instantly tensing in response, their hands settling on the hilts of their weapons ready for an attack.

“What?”

She asked, fingers wrapping around the handle as she slowly began to draw her sword, conscious not to make a single sound less it reveal her intentions.

“I left my candy bar in the car…”

He replied; Mikasama silently cursing the boy’s name, because really?! That was his concern right now?!

“Satoru; you idiot-!”

She hissed, still keeping her voice low as she shot daggers at the dumb blonde frisking down his pockets in a quest for snacks.

“What?! I get hungry on missions!”

He said as if this was some teddy bear’s picnic and not a trek through the goddamn Suicide Forrest!

“We’re about to face God knows how many Curses, and you’re thinking about your stomach?!”

She snarled, once again astounded by the level of idiocy she had to deal with from her classmates on a daily basis.

“Would you rather I think about your ass instead?”

He offered; that insufferably smug smile making another appearance as she got ready to read him out about choosing now as a suitable time to flirt with her.

“Satoru Gojo; you absolute a-“

She began, trying her best to straighten up to her full height, even though it was virtually nothing compared to Gojo’s.

“Shhh!”

Hushed Getou; the boy putting one long finger to his lips as if they were naughty kids in a classroom and he was the teacher.

“Don’t shush me, when he’s the one being an asshole!”

She retorted, not willing to be made out to be the bad guy when Satoru was the one acting out to begin with.

“Yeah; I kinda wanted to hear what she wanted to say…”

Grinned Satoru, actually seeming to enjoy her berating him, but Seguru wasn’t about to put up with his degradation kink when there were more important things to be paying attention to.

“Shut up, Satoru!”

Interrupted Getou; the boy’s shoulders suddenly tensing as she realised he wasn’t just telling them because he wanted some peace and quiet.

“What is it..?”

She asked, realising that Getou was the only one still focused on their mission as he crouched down to the soil, fingers brushing against the dirt as if reading it.

“Something’s coming…”

Getou replied; slowly drawing his sword with a silent hiss, the glint of the blade casting slivers of light across the trees.

“What kind of something..?”

Asked Satoru; the boy no longer in the mood for joking now he realised that battle was about to commence.

“Something big.”

Said Getou; his head rising up to greet the Curse as the trees ahead began to part.

“Evening Roy. Can I get you a drink..?”

Chirped Rosalyn; the busty redhead possessing a voice so breathy, it could only be forced; the woman herself far too familiar with the Colonel than he’d be comfortable with in any other bar in Central.

“The usual…”

He replied, not bothering to clarify, because despite the bar-woman’s youthful complexion, she’d been serving him since before he was in his blues.

“Xingese Brandy it is…”

She nodded with approval, quickly darting off to the back where they kept the good stuff they didn’t water down.

He hadn’t meant to come to Chris’.

His Aunt’s little cathouse was far too well occupied by the File and Rank for a high profile Officer like himself to be seen consorting with Ladies Of The Night, but it had been home once; and part of him needed that familiarity more than anything.

It’s not that he didn’t like his new apartment.

It was perfectly serviceable for his needs, it was just it felt too empty as of late when she wasn’t in it.

“Here you go, Roy…”

Said Rosalyn, shoving a generously filled glass of Bourbon across the bar in his direction, the Colonel catching it with one white gloved hand before lifting it to drink.

Part of him was having second thoughts about letting her work with Jean again.

He knew what the Lieutenant and her had was a long time go, but so was his own history with Emily, and she’d still traveled across half of Amestris to reach him.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her; he did! 

It was just a part of him knew that Havoc hadn’t stopped loving her either-

“I should’ve known the only State Dog with the nerve to drink me dry would be you…”

That line of thought was cut off completely by a a voice that was the closest thing to a mother that he had; the after effects of decades worth of cigarettes making her voice sound harder and rougher than most drill sergeants.

“Nice to see you too, Madam Christmas…”

Mustang replied with charming formality, taking another sip of the well-aged bourbon as he took in the plump, hard-nosed Madam standing just a few bar stools away.

“‘Nice’ doesn’t explain why you’re holding up my bar, Roy…”

She drawled without a hint of amusement, giving him a hard stare that most Generals would be envious of.

“Can’t a man come for a drink with some of the most beautiful women in Central?”

He asked with one of those rare disarming smiles; the sort that left the working girls in giggles, but did little to impress his Aunt.

“Unless he’s planning on paying for a room, then no; he can’t…”

She replied; her frown so deep, he could almost believe she wasn’t pleased to see him.

Something about that ever present scowl always felt like home to him.

After his parents’ untimely deaths; she’d all but raised him as her own, bringing him up alongside prostitutes and their pups to the point that the presence of scantily clad women was almost a norm to him.

His Aunt and her harem of working women had taught him everything he knew about charm and deception; about how much you could learn by playing the dumbest person in the room, and how a pretty smile and prettier face could start or stop more wars than any gun.

Now, he was all but an expert at the art of playing the game that was best done in bars and back alleys, and he had her to thank.

“Chris…”

He smiled wider at the woman’s crossed arms and raised brows, knowing that she couldn’t keep up the school mistress act for long when it came to him.

She loved him.

He was her blood and practically her son.

She’d never not welcome him home, though never with open arms.

Her cold hard demeanour broke at his smirk; the smallest hint of a smile peaking at the corners of her over-lined lips, before she walked over to him, giving him a harder pat on the back than was entirely necessary.

“So what really brings you here, Roy-Boy? And don’t say the company…”

She asked again, knowing her Foster Son better than she knew herself sometimes, and he never visited just for the pleasure of company.

“A woman.”

Roy admitted; his smile falling as quickly as it came, the young Colonel taking another long sip of his drink as he contemplated the wisdom of revealing more.

There were few people he could trust with the true secrets of his life.

Maes was one, but now he was dead and buried, and he found his list of trustworthy friends getting shorter by the years, and Chris was family.

Flesh and blood may have meant little in modern Amestris, but he himself put some weight in ties that could not be so easily discarded.

“A woman, eh..?”

Drawled Chris, signalling to Rosalyn to get her a drink of her own; the matron always partial to some fine red wine before she gave her nephew advice.

“Would this be that Maria Ross girl?”

She asked, because apparently word travelled fast even beyond the barracks, but he guessed there was something about sharing a warm bed that made a soldier spill all his deepest darkest secrets to what could be his lover just for a night.

“No…”

He quickly shot down that line of thought; not needing to feed the rumour mill with tales of a jealous ex-lover on top of his potential murder trial.

“This one’s a lot closer to home…”

He said, but Chris didn’t need words to understand exactly what, or who was on her nephew’s mind as of late.

“I’m guessing this concerns a certain dark-haired beauty from way back when…”

She said, already very familiar with the particular brand of woman troubles he was suffering from, and already knowing the cure her girls offered would be no help for him with it.

“You’d be right…”

Roy confirmed, nursing that bourbon like it was his life’s blood in every quick mouthful, and maybe it was; the bittersweet burn warming him from the inside out.

“Roy; she’s dead. There isn’t a fix in the world for that-“

She replied, well used to having to comfort his grieving soul over these past few years; the boy still insistent on carrying a long snuffed torch for his late lover even when there was nothing left to mourn.

“She’s not dead.”

Roy snapped, adamant in his words, and she wondered if they’d come full cycle back to denial at last.

“Roy-“

She tried to let him down easy, one of her aged yet well manicured hand resting between his shoulder blades in a gesture that was meant to stabilise as well as soothe.

“She survived, and she’s returned to me.”

He said, and for a moment she thought he’d finally lost it; the young man been driven insane by pain and grief to the point he was delusional, and yet his eyes held no madness.

“Well; this is news to me…”

She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, allowing her nephew to air his grievances openly to her when it came to women troubles.

“When did this happen?”

She asked, expecting his story to fall apart on the details, only for him to respond in kind.

“About a week ago…”

He admitted, finishing off the last of his drink in one large swig so not even the dregs were left.

“Though I’ve known she’s been alive for longer…”

He continued, and Chris signaled to Rosalyn for another drink, knowing he’d need at least another three before the night ran out.

“Alive? How?”

She asked; remembering very well the gory and intimate details Roy had shared with her about the girl’s supposed death, and doubting anyone could survive.

“I… I don’t know…”

He admitted as Rosalyn replaced his old glass with a refill, the young Colonel already clutching it like he feared it would escape him too.

“You don’t know, or you didn’t ask?”

She questioned, knowing her nephew’s soft heart beneath his cold exterior; that that same heart belonged to a woman she’d only had the pleasure of meeting on one occasion.

“I didn’t think it would matter…”

He said, taking a sip of his ice cold bourbon as if to wash the words down, his white gloves now damp with the condensation.

“But it does.”

She nodded, guessing that he now must’ve come to his senses about it all in the end; about how his foolish infatuation with this girl could only lead to ruin.

“You’d think…”

He almost chuckled at that; the sound dry and sarcastic as if he knew how much of a fool he sounded; welcoming a dead woman in his home as if he hadn’t held her bloodied corpse all those years before.

“But something else bothers me more…”

He admitted, swirling the deep amber of his bourbon around the glass as if it would somehow yield answers to perhaps a bigger question plaguing his mind.

“Another man..?”

She asked, already too familiar with this story having lived it herself, and she already knew they rarely had happy endings.

He nodded, chugging back his drink in one go, the burn of the liquor and the harsh clack of the ice cubes against the rim cutting through his melancholy.

Competition was never easy, especially when it concerned the object of your affection, and Roy wasn’t such a young man now.

He was broken and beaten before his time; his heart and body not quite strong enough to deal with another betrayal.

 “And you think she’ll choose the other..?”

Chris continued, watching her nephew as he slammed down his glass, signalling to Rosalyn for yet another.

“Perhaps…”

He replied; the man’s words getting fewer by the glass, his gloved hands reaching up to smooth the hair that had escaped his slicked style back away from his face.

“Then let him have her.”

She said; the delivery so curt, it honestly shocked him.

“What?”

He replied; not expecting Chris Mustang, of all people, to tell him to give up.

“You’ll find nothing but heartbreak in that girl, Roy…”

She informed him, reaching across to give him a pat on his shoulder as she got up from her stool.

“Better to just let her go…”

The Madame offered her sage advice, leaving her Foster Son to stew in his liquor and her words a little longer whilst she returned to business.

Perhaps she was right…

Perhaps there was wisdom in letting her go that his jealous, possessive heart could not see…

But something about letting her away from him sent his guts churning and his heart pounding, and he knew he might not be strong enough to do so.

Instead, he took another glass from Rosalyn, determined to drown his worries in drink, till he couldn’t remember them tomorrow.

It was then he noticed she never touched her wine; the red liquid as crimson as blood in the dim of the bar light.

“I… can’t believe we’re actually here…”

Admitted Mikasama; her voice barely above a whisper as she let her eyes wander over the towering treetops surrounding them, their colossal peaks making even Satoru seem small by comparison.

“Well; hopefully we won’t have to be for too long, if our intel was correct…”

Getou said; the brunette always remaining strangely calm, even when walking virtually unarmed into the most notorious forrest in Japan.

“But still; are neither of you feeling… strange..?”

She asked, her hands rubbing at the goosebumps prickling beneath her sleeves; her entire body on high alert from the moment they set foot in the Sea of Trees, and yet she couldn’t seem to find the reason.

“Why? You scared we’re gonna see a dead body..?”

Grinned Satoru; now having swapped back to his sunglasses as he strutted carelessly ahead, the boy apparently not phased in the slightest by their gloomy surroundings.

“Mikasama; don’t worry yourself too much. The rangers have already done their rounds this morning, so finding any corpses along this path is very unlikely…”

Assured Getou; the boy giving her a gentle smile that was meant to put her mind at ease, but it wasn’t the possibility of seeing dead people that was putting her on edge.

“No; it’s not that. It’s… something else…”

She said, her eyes flickering suspiciously at the elongated shadows in the distance; her mind playing tricks on her in the darkness. 

It felt as if the trees were watching their every move; their long skeletal forms like sentinels as the three of them slowly made their way through their domain.

“Shit…”

Cursed Satoru; both her and Getou instantly tensing in response, their hands settling on the hilts of their weapons ready for an attack.

“What?”

She asked, fingers wrapping around the handle as she slowly began to draw her sword, conscious not to make a single sound less it reveal her intentions.

“I left my candy bar in the car…”

He replied; Mikasama silently cursing the boy’s name, because really?! That was his concern right now?!

“Satoru; you idiot-!”

She hissed, still keeping her voice low as she shot daggers at the dumb blonde frisking down his pockets in a quest for snacks.

“What?! I get hungry on missions!”

He said as if this was some teddy bear’s picnic and not a trek through the goddamn Suicide Forrest!

“We’re about to face God knows how many Curses, and you’re thinking about your stomach?!”

She snarled, once again astounded by the level of idiocy she had to deal with from her classmates on a daily basis.

“Would you rather I think about your ass instead?”

He offered; that insufferably smug smile making another appearance as she got ready to read him out about choosing now as a suitable time to flirt with her.

“Satoru Gojo; you absolute a-“

She began, trying her best to straighten up to her full height, even though it was virtually nothing compared to Gojo’s.

“Shhh!”

Hushed Getou; the boy putting one long finger to his lips as if they were naughty kids in a classroom and he was the teacher.

“Don’t shush me, when he’s the one being an asshole!”

She retorted, not willing to be made out to be the bad guy when Satoru was the one acting out to begin with.

“Yeah; I kinda wanted to hear what she wanted to say…”

Grinned Satoru, actually seeming to enjoy her berating him, but Seguru wasn’t about to put up with his degradation kink when there were more important things to be paying attention to.

“Shut up, Satoru!”

Interrupted Getou; the boy’s shoulders suddenly tensing as she realised he wasn’t just telling them because he wanted some peace and quiet.

“What is it..?”

She asked, realising that Getou was the only one still focused on their mission as he crouched down to the soil, fingers brushing against the dirt as if reading it.

“Something’s coming…”

Getou replied; slowly drawing his sword with a silent hiss, the glint of the blade casting slivers of light across the trees.

“What kind of something..?”

Asked Satoru; the boy no longer in the mood for joking now he realised that battle was about to commence.

“Something big.”

Said Getou; his head rising up to greet the Curse as the trees ahead began to part.

“You know; it’s pretty damn cosy in here…”

Jean purred; the encompassing warmth of the man’s body heat radiating through his clothes as he sat millimetres away from her; the small and almost claustrophobic insulation space between the walls not exactly the ideal environment for fostering propriety.

It wasn’t the ideal choice of rendezvous; the space really too cramped for one person, let alone two; especially when one measured well over six feet and had the broad shoulders to match.

Still; it had a pretty much direct line to the sewers; the city’s labyrinthian sanitation network spanning from Central Command, all the way to the outskirts of the city, making it an ideal escape route.

She supposed she should just be thankful that Roy hadn’t made them wait in the sewers-

“Jean-!”

Her thoughts were interrupted by a wandering hand, the blonde Sergeant’s grip wandering from his assault rifle to the clothed expanse of her inner thighs, overly familiar fingertips just brushing against the fabric of her combat trousers with the faintest hint of suggestion.

“What?!”

He replied, choosing now to pull his hand away from her and play the innocent. Still; the man’s shit-eating grin did little to convince her of his charade.

“You can’t… We can’t do that now…”

She explained, her face souring slightly at the reality, because she’d never really had to seriously tell Jean ‘No’ before; the Lieutenant either being too good at sweet-talking, or just too plain considerate for his handsiness to be a problem.

“It wouldn’t be fair on Roy…”

She finished; settling on the uncomfortable truth they both knew.

Roy had her loyalty.

He had her body and her heart too, and she was pretty sure he wasn’t the type of guy that was inclined to share, no matter what the circumstance.

“So you’re the Colonel’s girl now…”

Jean commented, head leaning back against the exposed brick, and she didn’t like which way this conversation was going.

“I’m guessing it’s pretty obvious…”

She said with a bitter smile, because she didn’t want to have to do this with Jean; at least not whilst they were both wedged against each other like sardines in a can.

“Evidently…”

Jean added with a self-deprecating laugh; the new reality of her relationship status clearly upsetting the man.

“Jean; I’m sorry…”

She apologised, because this wasn’t fair on him.

It wasn’t fair to make him sit and watch whilst her and Roy at least tried to be happy; and it was cruel of Roy to make him lay witness to it.

“Don’t apologise…”

Jean interrupted; the words surprisingly softer than the cutting remark she’d been expecting, the Lieutenant’s bright blue eyes staring down at her with a muted fondness; the fact his affections for her hadn’t changed in the slightest obvious, whether it be from the slightly pained smile, or the way his body leaned closer to her than necessary.

“Just tell me something…”

He asked, and she knew in this moment she’d do anything for this man, if she could only mend the broken look in his eye.

“Anything…”

She nodded, her voice quiet and almost breathless in the near oxygenless space; her bony knee now brushing against his in the closest thing they could get to physical affection without risking crossing a line.

“Why… Why Roy..?”

He asked; his eyes crinkling at the corners as if he struggled to get the question out, pain evident on his handsome face.

She wasn’t sure how to answer that.

How to explain her greatest betrayal to Jean without it sounding shallow or crass.

Because he was intense; perhaps.

He offered her a hot and cold form of love that was both exhilarating and infuriating in equal parts; the man always toeing the line on what was and wasn’t socially acceptable for two soldiers in their respective positions.

Because; he was arrogant.

Painfully and undeniably so. 

On the surface it had seemed that Roy had never known doubts, never known failure, yet as time went on she’d come to know him better; of how many skeletons he’d hid in his closet just to keep the image of the impenetrable Commander alive.

Because; he was beautiful…

Even more so than he was stubborn. 

Everything about Roy had managed to take her breath away from the moment she’d first seen him. He had this strange, dark kind of beauty that no one could live to match in her eyes; all dark and fiery eyes, and sly half-smiles.

Because she loved him…

But she’d loved Jean too, and she still hadn’t given him an answer; though judging by the sad, resigned look in his eyes, her silence had spoken mountains.

She’d wanted to apologise again, to beg the beautiful blonde for forgiveness for the hundredth time, but she knew it was a fruitless endeavour.

What was the point of an apology if you continued to hurt someone in the same way again and again?

So, instead she let the silence linger, the pair of them leaning back against the brick and resuming their vigil as they waited for the apparent death and disappearance of one Maria Ross.