Future. | Satoru Gojo

chapter 8, pt 2

A smile forms on both of our faces, excited to finally be assigned a mission together. We both jump up, interlocking arms. "Thank you, Masamichi Sensei!" We simultaneously exclaim, I presented a bow and rushed out of the door. Skipping down the hallways, through the front corridor, and down to the car that was already waiting for us.

-

"A graveyard mission..." I say as the car begins to move. "That sounds a little spooky, don't you think?" I ask Gojo. "Hmm are you scared?" He says, smirking. Frankly, we are both excited to finally be assigned a mission together. The long hours separated had really begun to create a blank space in our relationship. I would usually be much more serious regarding my mission assignments, but I know that as long as Gojo is there he will protect me. "Do you know how long the drive will be?" I ask the suited man steering the car. He sighs and looks back at me, "About half an hour" he answers blankly. Gojo turns to me, rolling his eyes at the driver's bland expression. "Guess that means you have time for a nap!" Gojo says, poking my shoulder with his index finger. I giggle and press my face to the cold glass, staring at the slick road. The melting snow is turning gray, and becoming slushy like.

It only felt like I had my eyes closed for five minutes, but when I opened them we had already arrived. The driver's blank face has now formed a smile, Gojo was chatting him up. I watched Gojo, in awe of such sweet behavior. I'm not sure what they were chatting about, I was too distracted by the white haired boy's voice. "Thank you for the drive." I tell the driver, reaching for my door. The driver smiles at me, and as I begin to pull the handle the door is swung open. Standing behind it was the same white haired boy I was just studying.

"It's less creepy during the day." I tell him, examining the graveyard that lays in front of us. Of course, graveyards attract curses. The energy and grief that forms in them calls for exorbitant amounts of negative energy to gather. Small groups are gathered around some of the tombstones, it almost felt disrespectful to look at them. We begin walking, and I realize that every curse and group we pass are grade 4 and below. All grouped together, exposing how weak they individually are. I furrow my eyebrows, questioning to myself why Gojo would be assigned such a mission.

"I can take one half, you just take the other. Hopefully we will be out of here by lunchtime." I tell Gojo, pulling some cough drops from my skirt pocket. Gojo looks around, examining each part of the cemetery. "Something is off here..." He says, facing his body towards a wilting oak tree. "If there is something bigger, we should exorcize the smaller groups first." I tell him, knowing that my voice will not able to handle each group on its own. He nods, and begins walking towards a small group of curses, never taking his eye off of the tree. He brings his pinky finger to his index and begins flicking them. With each flick, an extreme amount of curse energy ripples through the air.

After exorcizing the group of curses with only his finger tips, a tree branch falls from the oak tree. We both turn our full attention to it, a gut feeling rises telling me to run away. No, no. You are not a runner anymore, you must fight. "Come." He instructs, walking in the direction of the tree. Unlike last time, I followed him. The tree was larger than life, probably sitting in this exact spot for hundreds of years. It's trunk was the size of ten human bodies, and taller than some of the buildings in the city.

"You're a sneaky one." Gojo says, looking up. There's nothing there. Nothing that I can see at least. Gojo removes his glasses, handing them to me. "I can see you, though. Come down please." He says, still looking up to an empty branch. I place his glasses in my jacket, confused on what I should do in this situation. "I should let you handle this." I tell Gojo, interrupting his conversation with the imaginary being. 

Still maintaining eye contact with the branch, he nods. "Go handle the other groups, but stay close. I shouldn't be long." I giggle, trying to ignore the instincts I have that are screaming at me to run away as far as I can. This time, its different. I am aware of my power, but when I am with Gojo it feels irresponsible to attempt to assist the exorcism of a curse that I cant see with my own two eyes.