VEIL (Gojo Satoru X OC X Geto Suguru)

Chapter 11

The night was falling cold and heavy. Satoru was standing on the roof, looking at the moon. The winter chill blew through his hair. He wore his uniform which did little to protect him from the cold. There was a tinge of blue in the moon tonight. Gojo knew what that meant. He couldn't believe his luck. For the first time in his life, he had questions that he couldn't solve with his strength and cursed technique. He needed guidance, guidance from someone who was stronger than he was. 

-----

Stepping into Suguru's room, Reiki's mind was a whirlwind of conflicted thoughts. She was unsure about what to expect, torn between the curiosity driving her to understand him better and the fear of exposing her own secrets. A blend of curiosity and caution danced in her mind as she observed the space, wondering how much of herself she should reveal and what Suguru might already know. She was acutely aware of the proximity, both physical and emotional, -between them, and the weight of her own vulnerabilities in this scenario.

Reiki hesitantly walked in, taking a seat on the sofa, as Suguru slipped into a black oversized sweatshirt. 

"Do you want something?" He asked. "Coffee or water maybe? I might have some pears lying around too."

"Shoko made sure I ate before I came over," Reiki replied, not making eye contact with him.

Suguru stood by his study table and turned towards Reiki, his hands grabbing the table top on his back. "How can I help you then?" He asked with a smile.

"So you've decided to be formal with me?"

"I haven't decided anything."

"Suguru...let's talk it out." Reiki said with a sigh.

"Why are you acting like we had a fight? There is no need to make up, you know..." Suguru said with a smile. It unnerved Reiki. She had never seen such a forced smile from him. She wished she could hurl something at him, to crack his persona. But he would dodge. He would dodge each and every attack from her. She was weak right now, not only in her body but in her spirit. Jujutsu High had forced her to confront a part of herself that was more crooked than her cursed side- she didn't know her humanity could feel so crippling.

Suguru turned around to face the table. As he started to heat up some water to make himself a cup of tea, Reiki's words surprised him.

"I have never had friends." She spoke. "I don't know how this works Suguru."

Suguru's hands stopped, but he didn't dare turn around.

" I don't know how social cues work. I don't know how to understand you, or understand myself. Don't pull back Suguru...i need to learn what is going on." Reiki said with a desperation in her voice.

"What do you mean?" His voice was more confused than ever.

"I don't know how to explain it to you. I just need you to be straight forward with me." Her voice was tired, coarse.

Suguru banged his hands down on the table, turning around towards Reiki. The confusion in his eyes had turned into hurt.

"Straightforward? Seriously? You lock yourself up in a room without telling anyone anything. You don't answer when we knock. You don't bother to let us know that you are alive! And then when you decide to walk out, you don't explain yourself- Reiki you have the audacity to ask me to be straightforward with you? When have I ever not been that."

Suguru was walking closer to Reiki as he spoke. His eyes were red, tears threatening to fall out.

"I have never lied to you Kurai. And it feels like you have always kept something from me."

Reiki wanted to defend herself but she didn't want to dig a deeper hole for herself. She looked up at Suguru, meeting his eyes.

"What is going on with you Kurai?" Suguru said, sounding defeated.

Reiki kept looking at him. The hurt in his eyes had bled into hers. But she did not have an answer for him. She knew her mouth was not capable of anything but lies in this moment. So she didn't dare open her mouth at all.

------

Outside, the moon had deepened into a vivid shade of blue. It was almost time. Satoru embarked on his journey.

The school stood secluded, distanced from the turmoil of the bustling city. Tall trees encircled the campus, their branches extending far beyond a mere garden. Erected at the fringe of an extensive forest centuries ago, the school's roots intertwined with the history of the land. Satoru, veering away from the school grounds, navigated through desolate pathways until he reached the forest's entrance. The moonlit sky served as his guide, casting an ethereal glow upon the surroundings. The cold air tightened its grip on him as he advanced into the shadows of the woods. Unfazed, Satoru's eyes remained uncovered.

The moon's radiance intensified, casting a deepening shade of blue with each passing moment. As Satoru delved deeper into the forest, the thick canopy of trees obstructed the moonlight, enveloping the night in an even denser darkness. Deep into the sea of darkness, he felt the presence of the ancient tree. He closed his eyes, and concentrated on its location. Within the map etched in his mind, the tree emitted the same blue glow of the moon. Trusting his instincts, he navigated through the tightly clustered trees. Their slender branches reached out like probing fingers, scratching against Satoru's skin and collecting droplets of his blood as if claiming them as miniature trophies. He couldn't comprehend the reason, but he resisted activating his Limitless. He craved to feel the scratches, the pain, the imminent danger, and the anxiety, hoping it would anchor his mind, preventing it from wandering back to Reiki.

------

"Say something!" Geto said, his voice louder than usual.

"What do you want me to say?" Reiki stood up, without breaking eye-contact with Suguru.

Geto sighed. "Kurai...stop doing that. Stop trying to make up a response, you think I'll like!"

There was silence in the room, until Reiki spoke again. "Do you want to hear a story?"

"What?" Suguru asked surprised at the randomness of her words.

"There was a child born from a bloody flower, adorned with the head of a lion and the body of a deer. The flower couldn't impart the skill of walking, so after stumbling for a year or two, she eventually mastered the use of her deer legs. Aware of her misfortune but not naïve, she understood that neither the lions nor the deer would accept her. The deers would be terrified, and the lions would devour her. So, she roamed alone throughout her life, grappling with the challenge of fitting her lion head on her shoulders.Then the humans started to come by. They had declared themselves to the saviors of the weak, the deer of the jungle. Whenever they found the monstrous creature, they would restrain the lion-headed deer, attempting to free her from herself- by pulling on her head, so it would detach itself from her body. The creature was quick to adapt- she shaved off her ears, nose, and canines, gradually transforming to resemble a deer convincingly. So much so that sometimes even she would forget her true nature. But late into the night, when the moon took an unusual colour, a thought would often cross her mind,

"How long can I hide from them? The humans? How long...can I hide from myself?"