Chapter Text
I just can't take my eyes off you
Tell me anything you wanna do
I just can't take my eyes off you
Nothing I can do about it
Don't ask why
But every little thing you do just drives me wild
Don't be shy
Come a little closer, light my world on fire, fire
There's no touch or feeling
Pleasure or pain
Anything like the way you runnin' through my veins
No breath or beauty
No sound or sight
That ever made me feel the way you do tonight
Gojo's Clan
The Gojo clan has always been recognized for multiple reasons. From how surly its members and family members are in union, as well as how little they are given to mingle. It is a mechanism doomed to stop working, to wreak havoc. The Jujutsu world is very cruel and one full of ambition. Watching one's back is the only alternative the clan had to maintain itself and among it was to avoid alliances with recognized clans. The major examples being the Zen'in clan and the Kamo clan.
The knowledge of what they really intended was one of the reasons that stopped the mere possibility of a union: they want to be above them, if possible: to vanish the Gojō name from the face of the earth as if they were not the ones who possess the best cursed technique of all: Limitless.
While skipping a few generations, it has never happened that another family is able to develop this technique, much less possess what it allows to perform: Six eyes. It is an event eagerly awaited by everyone in the Jujutsu world. Some want to destroy it, others to appropriate it. To reproduce it en masse as if it were some kind of factory-made product. Maintaining its purity is the mission of the Gojō as a clan. They will do so to the last of them.
However, this inability to allow the technique to spread or be eliminated, thus preventing the supremacy of the sorcerers over the curses, is what causes the current problem: The clan is on the verge of disappearing.
While there were several children in the previous generation, no matter how hard they try, no more children are born. For generations, they have barely possessed cursed energy. They have been respected sorcerers in society, but nothing to make them stand out.
Until the last heir of the Gojō clan appears: Satoru, possessor of Six Eyes and who was known to be the most powerful sorcerer of this era.
They kept him jealously guarded for years. Until it became uncontrollable unfortunately. Satoru is a very rebellious child. He wants to live his life in his own way, not guided by panic or the pride of elders who want to fill themselves with pride at his expense. They have already lived their life and it is time to live his.
The problem came too soon. Everyone in the clan is old and one by one they began to die. Satoru saw it. As his clan fell apart and before he knew it, only he was left. Not even his parents were present. Sorcerers do not live long and those who do, it is because they never exercised it properly. Within a few years, he found himself with a huge empty house to maintain, a name to uphold, and a legacy that suddenly made him realize the worst.
He is alone.
He's on top of the world with the greatest power known to man and...
He is pitifully alone.
At first it didn't figure to be a problem.
At first, it was a relief not to have to listen to anyone. It's his family name, it's his money, it's his everything. He doesn't have to answer to anyone. However, after enjoying that privilege, he realized that being alone is horrible: there's no one to talk to, no one to think about. There's not even anyone to hate now. Only external people who don't really mean anything to him. It's all come down to him and it's...
So lonely.
So miserable.
Knowing that sorcerers die all the time makes it worse. Unlike the others who were noticed, when he dies no one is going to remember or miss him. At best, they will think that the strongest one died or that his cursed technique disappeared. Beyond that... there will be nothing.
Because he is nobody.
It became horrible to be the strongest, the most independent. Out of nowhere, he wanted someone to appear to right this wrong. After all, if he was created this perfect, why couldn't he make more like him? Why must he suffer such a disgusting, horrible curse that only destroys his soul by making him feel cold?
Satoru doesn't know
He doesn't understand.
And the answer came.
He doesn't have to be alone.
He will have someone.
And that person is right in front of him.
"I-I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I-I didn't mean to do this. I'm sorry."
The childish sobs are soft and broken, just as sad as the little creature in front of him looks. Satoru stares at her through his dark, round glasses. She must be no more than six years old, seven at the most. Her pink hair with an inner black section in the cut uneven and messy; her body small and full of hideous bruises in places that generate suspicion. On her face, a couple of marks below her eyes.
And the worst thing about the situation, is the blood everywhere. Especially her, who has it on her hands, clothes and hair. Satoru approaches, ignoring the panorama full of corpses of people in traditional clothes; most of them with their intestines out and injuries so terrible that they look like they were caused by a sadist who longed to see suffering.
That's what happened.
And it happened hand in hand with this little girl.
He kneels down in front of her, looking at her over his glasses. She directs her bright yellow eyes at Satoru, transfixed by the abysmally blue color of those huge irises. Her body still trembles and she looks vulnerable, dressed in a white kimono stained with red.
"Wow, you made a huge mess." he says tactlessly and thoughtlessly. She gives a broken whimper.
"I-I didn't mean to-"
"No? Why not?" He drops his head to the side and the girl suffers a shudder. "These useless... these idiots" She gives a brief glance around. "They were hurting you weren't they?" The girl doesn't deny it or admit it, just sniffles. "They earned to have died. Especially by your hand, who suffered."
"I don't want to hurt anyone." she sobs in despair and Satoru smiles wide, almost cruel.
"The good part is, it wasn't you, was it? Sukuna."
The girl gives an exclamation, her eyes widening beneath his. Painted red and her mouth about to twitch. She covers herself with her hand, but that only causes a long, gaping mouth with fangs and tongue marks to emerge.
"The wielder of Six Eyes... How untimely. Just when I thought these useless beings could do something right."
"Your bearer is a bit... tender for what you are, you fucking scumbag vermin." comments Satoru and she looks at him in panic Does he know about Sukuna?
"She's stronger than she looks and more useful too. Too bad. I would have preferred this one to last, being able to contain me What can't she carry in her body?"
She pulls her hands away and looks at the one with the mouth, where an eye emerges without a problem.
"Tough luck, kiddo."
The eyes close, the mouth disappears and she exclaims in fright, taking a couple of steps back. She shakes her head, still shaking and finishing by bumping her back against the huge wall made of stone: an engraving of the king of curses made of stone. His markings, his monstrous anatomy. Everything is there. In contrast to the small body that has him inside. Satoru clicks his tongue, disgusted that the girl has peed herself in fear.
She babbles on and on. It's a bit irritating. So are her huge, panicked eyes. Satoru hates it. He hasn't done anything. She is alone...
Used by these miserable, stupid people.
Taking a step, she breaks into a run in another direction. Satoru whistles, surprised that someone with such short legs can move so fast. The girl flees down long corridors, filled with human corpses, corpses of curses. Blood and foul debris strewn everywhere. She stumbles because of the same. Her bare feet skid in the purple blood. She shakes his head and shrieks when she notices Satoru standing in front of her.
"Your name?
She is slow to answer, too terrified and thinking he is going to kill her. However, she makes him enough thinking ability to say:" Y-Yūji.
"Yūji, the vessel and future wife of the curse king" Satoru hums, mocking and nonchalant. He shoves his hands in his pockets. "You're a very interesting little creature" he smiles broadly. "And very strong, considering it doesn't get out of control unless you're unprotected or very scared... Ummm..."
Yūji swallows thickly, intimidated. Satoru snaps his fingers.
"You don't have family do you?"
"N-no... they..."
"I figured as much" Satoru crouches down and rests his arms on his knees. "You have two choices: you stay here and wait for someone else to come, find out about you, find out about Sukuna and kill you" Yūji pales at that. "Or you come with me: no retorts, no claims, and no attempts to escape."
She opens and closes her mouth. She's been locked up here for months, but... At least with him it won't be like here, right? Yūji nods and Satoru smiles slyly. A part of him insanely happy because... He found someone just as lonely as him and they'll be able to keep each other company.
┈ ⋞ 〈 ✷ 〉 ⋟ ┈
Satoru brought her to a huge house. One where she can play and go wherever she wants. She learned to cook all this time by herself, so it's not a problem to prepare food for herself. Satoru buys everything from clothes to food and toys so she doesn't get too bored. He doesn't usually come over. It makes for a very lonely, but peaceful time.
There are no threats, no rituals, no murders, none of that: it's herself is a palace at her own expense with everything she could possibly want.
When Satoru returns it is a very simple routine: watch him eat sweets, complain that he wants to eat something sweet and propose to buy cakes to eat. He has explained a lot about the Jujutsu world to Yūji. Enough to let he krnow why he's leaving, why they're both important in different ways, and a long string of things that barely fit inside her seven-year-old head.
"Because you're the strongest sorcerer of all Did they give you a palace?" asks Yūji leaving the plate with food on the table Satoru helped her carry almost everything for dinner. Satoru rests his chin on his palm.
"Nah, it's just what my family left me."
"The Gojō clan."
"Right. " He points at her with his index finger and a stupid grin. Yūji pouts slightly.
"But there's no one here." Yūji assumes that maybe he's in a place just for Satoru. That's why there are no servants, no parents, uncles, uncles, cousins, siblings. No one. Satoru shakes his head, without wiping that smile on his face.
"Because there's no one else in this clan: just me."
"Oh... that sounds very sad" Yūji opines in a whisper, lowering her gaze. "It means Satoru-niisan is alone."
Satoru laughs and shakes his finger from right to left.
"E-rror" Yūji looks up. "I have Yūji and the truth... that's all I need."
Yūji pouts, she doesn't think she's enough to keep anyone company, but if Satoru says so it must be okay. Satoru thanks for the food and starts eating.
┈ ⋞ 〈 ✷ 〉 ⋟ ┈
Satoru hears sobbing almost every night he is home.
It is obvious who it is, for there is no one else.
At first he ignores it. Yūji plays and smiles during the day with no problems. So some nightmares that make her cry are no big deal. However, after much ignoring, he decides to go see her. A little annoyed at the interruption of his sleep. The corridors dimly lit by moonlight and lonely as any are flooded more with that anguished sound. He reluctantly opens the door.
Inside and on the futon, a small mountain covered by the thick comforter. Satoru leans against the door, his silhouette shadowed by being against the light.
"Why are you crying? You make such a fuss-"
"I had an ugly dream" Yūji uncovers her face little by little. Swollen, red, full of tears; hiccuping and clinging to the quilted sheet. "It was an ugly dream." repeats, sniffling.
"Yūji, nightmares aren't real. It's just your neurons torturing each other" Satoru informs and Yūji rubs her face with the cloth. "Whatever it is, just ignore it and-"
"Su-Sukuna does ugly things" Satoru raises his eyebrows What does Sukuna have to do with this? "He does very-very ugly things to me" Yūji rubs under her nose and cheeks with the already wet cloth. "He does things that hurt me and-and he kills Satoru-niisan" If the crying was shocking and loud, it's much worse now. "He killed you! And he laughed! I don't want Sukuna to do anything to Satoru-niisan!" Satoru walks further towards her. "I'm d-afraid-I don't want to be without Satoru-niisan again- Sukuna is mean to me. It hurts me what he does and Satoru-niisan-"
She doesn't know how to explain everything in her nightmares. Sukuna's touch, things she still doesn't understand and it hurts. Below him, seeing his sadistic red eyes boring into hers; the rough, painful touch on purpose, that breaks her body and makes her cry on purpose; that makes her bleed on purpose.
Everything he does hurts and scares the hell out of her.
Because Satoru is dead and she knows that without him, no one is going to save her.
Because she has only Satoru.
Yūji hides again, crying non-stop and Satoru purses his lips. He hates rowdy children, but at the same time, he doesn't like that Yūji is crying like this. Just like the day they met and she thought it would kill her.
He approaches the futon carefully and slowly hugs her without pulling her out of her blanket cover. Yūji squeezes her eyes shut, sniffling and letting herself be done, surprised that Satoru is carrying her and carrying her around the house. When she comes out of hiding, she is in Satoru's room. He uses the sheet to wipe her face. Yūji hiccups and looks at him with her puffy, huge eyes.
"Sukuna can't do anything to you" Satoru assures taking her firmly by the arms, but the tenderness imprinted on it. The same one he always uses when touching her. Yūji trembles her lips, looking into his eyes. Calm, bright, sure. "As long as I exist, he can never hurt you. Trust me. I am the strongest in the world."
"Stronger than Sukuna?"
"And than anyone who would want to hurt you."
Yūji breaks free from his grip to hug him, hiding in Satoru's chest. The teenager strokes her hair and back for a few minutes, letting her calm down before lying down with her still hugging him.
She had no nightmares that night and every time she has one, she goes to Satoru to tell her that Sukuna is a pathetic loser for scaring her.
┈ ⋞ 〈 ✷ 〉 ⋟ ┈
Satoru bought her many toys, so many that they fill her room and she must use another one. Yūji spends hours playing with them at the same time she listens to TV. She likes her dolls, likes putting puzzles together, likes cars and their absurdly elaborate tracks.
However, what Yūji likes most about the toys is when Satoru is home and they play together. He makes up crazy stories. Like how the teddy bear is a curse and Barbie the sorceress - who curiously covers her eyes with a black band - can kill him without even breaking a sweat.
They race remote control cars and then, eating whatever candy Satoru brought, watch TV until they fall asleep, usually Yūji falls asleep first, using Satoru as a pillow. The first few times, he hated it and brushed her off, sometimes drooling; eventually, he just let her lay better on his leg and not on his chest, the hot breathing unpleasant; finally, now, that he keeps her on his lap however she fell asleep, he strokes her slowly growing hair and gives her occasional glances, finding her smiling in between dreams.
"Sleep well, Yūji." Satoru purrs smilingly, pressing a kiss to her head. Yūji snuggles more into him, pleased at his warmth and to hear his heart beating.
Different from the nightmares where it's cold and silent.
┈ ⋞ 〈 ✷ 〉 ⋟ ┈
Having Yūji with her is... equal to a blessing.
Whenever Satoru returns home, she greets him with a smile and a hug. As the months go by, bigger and happier; genuine in her admiration and happiness to have him back. She always prepares food for him, spoils him with some of his favorite sweets and chats to him about the manga she has read, the stories she has made up or what she has seen on TV.
Yūji is the most adorable little girl of all. One who is perfectly safe here. Without anyone knowing of her existence.
The Sukuna vessel is something highly sought after in the underground and hardly noticed by Jujutsu society, but no one knows how it looks like, what it looks like, how many fingers it has consumed. It is a total mystery that only Satoru knows. Yūji has already consumed seven fingers. Six of them given by Sukuna's fanatical cult and one of them by himself.
"I'll get them all" he announces showing the cursed object. Yūji's eyes unfounded in fear. "And I'll give them to you to eat... When you've eaten them all, Sukuna will try to take over; he's going to try to be reborn through you and if what he says is true, he'll make you continue his legacy."
"bu-but-"
"What will happen will be this," Satoru catches up Yūji. "You'll be so strong, he won't be able to use your body; you're going to seal him inside you, just like a dormant virus" he smiles cocking his head to the side. "The curses will diminish, his cults will disappear and finally there won't be so many tragedies? What do you think?" Yūji shakes his head.
"I'm not strong enough to get something like that, Satoru-niisan."
"Of course you are!" exclaims Satoru with conviction. "You're the strongest girl in the world, you'll be the strongest woman of all. I'll teach you to control it, within a year" he informs and Yūji looks surprised. "I'll train you myself to do everything you can against it... I promise you'll be fine."
"Really?"
"Of course!"
Even if she believes him, she's not entirely confused. She's innocent, more not entirely stupid. Satoru watches as the mummified phalanx passes down her throat. The vomit reflex was inevitable. Yūji covers her mouth, scrunches up her face and tightens her features. Satoru catches her before she falls to the ground, staggering. He pulls her up onto his lap and strokes her hair, escorting her through the momentary state of weakness and fever, where he assumes Sukuna is trying to get out. He tries to take control.
He kisses her on the head. "You are strong. Don't be afraid... he's not going out to hurt anyone or you. You can do it."
His promises and whispers of encouragement get what it needs: to keep Yūji mentally strong. Sukuna depends on her being afraid, on her feeling unprotected. Otherwise, it will be impossible to shift at will to insert his. Yūji manages to normalize an hour later.
A whole hour in which Satoru kept her sitting and hugging her. He kisses her on the head again and leads her to one of the gardens. He stands her on the edge of the pond and Yūji's eyes widen. "It's the fish from the TV, look look look!
Satoru lets himself be carried back and forth by her, smiling softly at her excitement.
┈ ⋞ 〈 ✷ 〉 ⋟ ┈
"You said you hated being at home, but you keep running straight there What's wrong so much?"
Suguru can't shake the uneasiness off anymore. Satoru desperate to finish missions fast and take off to his family's house. There's no one there. Why such a hurry? Why so much interest? If it's an empty house and the bedroom here is not so bad. He's wanted to ignore it, but it's a year into this behavior it's gotten worse and worse.
Now it's a necessity, before it seemed like he was just going to keep an eye out to make sure everything was okay.
These days, anyone would think the house is going to burn down if they don't visit often enough.
"Nothing special," Satoru shoves his hands in his pockets. "It's my house. I don't have to settle for the shitty room we have here if I have a mansion all to myself." he grumbles. As if that's justification enough. Suguru narrows his eyes.
"You know you can tell me anything. We're friends." he adds and Satoru looks at him over his glasses, smiling as animated and wild as ever.
"Of course I know, but I have nothing to tell."
. . .
He doesn't want anyone to know about Yūji.
Not even Suguru.
Not even Yaga-sensei.
What would happen? Maybe they want to take her away, they want to hide her, they want to kill her...
Or give her a normal life...
A life away from Satoru.
"Welcome Satoru-niisan!" greets Yūji, having waited for him at the door of the house. Satoru smiles at him cocking his head to the side.
"I'm home, Yūji-chan~" he croons and Yūji smiles, swaying on his feet and with a blush on his face.
Satoru picks her up and carries her, with Yūji hugging him instantly. He leans back in her small chest and is still in the same thought: what would they do if they found out about her? They wouldn't think he's capable of taking care of her, they'd take her away from him; if they find out about Sukuna, which they will the moment they have her around, they'll sentence her to death.
They all want her dead.
None will give her a chance to prove she can hold Sukuna.
She tightens her grip and stops. He can't let them take her away from him... He would no longer know how to live without these welcomes and this attention just for being him. Without anything involving the Jujutsu world, his family name, his abilities.
He doesn't want to lose such a beautiful and unconditional love. He doesn't want to lose such a pure creature and at the same time, allow her to be broken. Only in her arms will she be safe and that is why she must remain secret. "Is something wrong Satoru-niisan?" Yūji takes off his glasses and Satoru shakes his head.
"Nothing. Just thinking nonsense... Did you make dinner... Wow~! How efficient you are. Let's go cooomerrrr." He walks with fake awkwardness to make her laugh. Yūji puts on Satoru's glasses, playing with it and the teenager is in charge of serving the food this time. When he's done, he devotes himself to watching her nothing else. A short thought crosses his mind:
Yūji is mine.