Your Highness (Gojo x Reader)

Chapter 22-Utahime's Poem

The Banquet hall erupted into applause as the Heian Orchestra finished their grand finale performance of a short version of Alexander Scriabin's piece "Mysterium."

As servants and musicians alike rushed to get everything off the stage, Sukuna stood up.

"Before our grand finale, I would like to say a few things. After this performance, I would please ask everybody to stay to observe the art around the hall, and meet me, my wife, and of course our finale, Iori Utahime." He smiled he gestured to Utahime who took the stage in front of the microphone that had been set up for her.

Everybody clapped. She coughed into the microphone and flashed a nervous smile. "Hello everybody! I'm Iori Utahime...I know many of you have seen my face, but nobody has every heard me actually present one of my poems, I've always been to nervous to...but the Empress, my best friend, convicned me to do it for the banquet. So, this is my newest poem, 'Honored Only by Death.' Written to the Emperor and Empress."

She unrolled her scroll and began to read it.

"My eyes ordain you with the greatest light,

Telling me there is nothing better than you.

The lust I dwell in I have dubbed love,

Is merely a wine poisoned by my own hands.

Am I so naïve, that I ignore my own actions,

And drink it?

Truly I am, because I see my dead body falling off the cliff,

I always told myself I would never even traverse near.

It's truly an explosion of my own emotions,

Fueled by my own stupid mistakes.

"Stupid girl!" I say, "I told you not to go near there, yet you do!"

"Stupid girl!" I say, "You should know never to hope for love,

It is doomed to fail!"

"Stupid girl!" I say, "Your dreams are impossible!"

My anger is the only guarantee of my entire life, love has no place here.

So, I lie dead in my own sin, relishing in the eternal hate I feel for myself.

But life.

It comes in the most unusual forms.

When death itself comes to save you,

You have no choice but to follow it.

Death gives life because it knows every hardship so well.

Death gives life because it knows every selfless sacrifice

And every selfish one too.

It knows all it's unfortunate victims,

But all it's heroes too.

It loves those heroes, who are granted life in the Elysian fields,

And it hates those who hurt those heroes,

Sentencing them to punishment in Tartarus.

Death loves me.

It grants me one better.

A seat at his right hand.

A life much greater than lust,

But love so devoted,

Death gives up its entire standing, in an endless sacrifice for me.

The first man used and abused me,

All for his own gain.

I was merely a clock that only served his purpose.

He felt he could change the time however he wished,

And I would never protest.

The man was too prideful, and did not think to check

What type of clock I am, and how I was counting down the minutes

The minutes to what you might ask?

Only death knows.

Because death read my instructions,

And changed my hands to the right time.

So once I did, I counted down the minutes

To that man's demise.

I am Death's clock,

The one that declares the time,

The time in which declares selfish and selfless sacrifice alike

Death praises me like a goddess

He would give up everything for me.

I am the object that makes death possible.

I am the ticking pocket watch in Death's pocket, called life.

And I only grant Death eternity."

-----------------

Gojo felt his Adam's Apple bob up and down as he held back sobs. The poem struck him right in the heart.

"Sukuna's crying-" Maki stopped when Yuta pointed at Gojo, who was also silently crying.

Sukuna had tears in his eyes, as he hugged you. Gojo looked up and felt tremendous hatred for the demon who stole you. The poem.

That poem was targeted at him.

He never used and abused you. You were always so...He didn't know what you always were. He never paid attention to you past his own lust. At least Sukuna pretended to.

Sukuna stood up and wiped his twitching eyes. "Truly amazing. You have impressed me beyond all belief, yet again Utahime."

She smiled and bowed.

"Now, treat yourself to our complimentary desserts and drinks, as well as the many pieces of art around the banquet hall." He nodded, and everybody clapped. Thus ending the main event.

Everybody began to stand up, and wander around, socializing, and looking to talk to Sukuna and you.

"Guys, we have to-"

Maki cut Gojo off. "We're not talking to her. She's right next to Sukuna. If we go near her, he will see it's us."

"He's not even out here. He went back into the palace." Yuta pointed out, "We need to go-"

"Yuta. He's not here." Maki was staring at Yuta.

"Who's not here?"

"Itadori!" She mouthed.

Yuta's eyes widened. Gojo began scanning the crowd, looking for him.

"I can't see him-" Gojo froze. "He's with Sukuna. It's subtle, but I can see his cursed energy behind the door."

"Oh shoot...We have to get out of here-"

"Oh no you are not." Utahime stood in front of the three with her arms crossed, Choso standing next to her, and several guards now surrounding them.