Cursed | Ryomen Sukuna & Gojo Satoru

(9) Reunion

Gojo had been dealing with a cluster of curses in a different city, his usual confident and playful demeanor clearly pissing them off.

It was during a brief lull in the battle, as he dispatched a particularly stubborn curse with a flick of his wrist, that his phone buzzed in his pocket. He almost ignored it, focusing on the task at hand, but something made him pause and check the message.

The text was from Shoko, concise and urgent.

"Kasaii's here with me. Two special-grade curses, one of them being Sukuna."

For a split second, the world seemed to stop. The noise of the city, the distant screams, the hum of cursed energy— all faded into the background. Gojo's heart skipped a beat, then pounded fiercely in his chest. Fear. Concern. Worry.

An overwhelming need to be by her side.

Without wasting another moment, he utilized limitless and teleported. The world blurred around him as he moved through space, driven by sheer will and the intensity of his emotions. He landed at the gates of Tokyo High, his six eyes immediately reaching out to locate Kasaii's presence.

Gojo's mind raced as he sprinted toward Shoko's clinic, and as he burst in, his usually composed exterior cracked. "Where is she? Is she okay?" he demanded, his voice tight with urgency.

Shoko looked up from her work, her expression calm and comically irritated. "You fool, calm down. She's fine. Now, wait outside. You're in the way."

Gojo's eyes softened momentarily as he saw Kasaii on the bed, white hair spread across the pillow, face pale but peaceful. The room was filled with the quiet hum of medical equipment, and Shoko's hands moved deftly as she applied healing techniques.

Reluctantly, Gojo stepped back, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. But he knew better than to argue. He stepped back, his eyes lingering on Kasaii, who was now facing him with a smile and making little 'go away' gestures with her hand.

With Gojo out of the way, Shoko returned her attention to Kasaii, who lay on the examination table. "He's always so dramatic," she said with a shake of her head, her fingers expertly checking Kasaii's eyes and body for injuries.

Kasaii smiled weakly. "I know, right? Anyway, how bad is it?"

"Not as bad as it could be," Shoko replied. "A few bruises, some strain on your eyes, but nothing that you didn't already go through. You really need to take it easy, though, girl."

Kasaii sighed, her expression softening. "That's a relief. I was worried it might be worse."

Shoko's eyes met Kasaii's, and she saw the lingering fatigue and concern in them, "Now, tell me, how did it feel facing the so-called 'King of Curses'?" she questioned while making quota marks in the air.

Kasaii's smile faded, replaced by a pensive look. "It was... strange. Familiar. We argued like, somehow, we knew each other for ages."

Shoko nodded, understanding the complexity of Kasaii's feelings. She's always been different.

Kasaii looked down at her hands, her mind drifting to the encounter. "I felt something deeper— Not just the animosity. He was trying to provoke me, yes, but there was also a hint of something else. And I know he knows it, too. Well, at least he talked to me like he did too."

Shoko raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting. From what I heard, Sukuna is just pure evil. A harbinger of destruction wherever he went."

Kasaii nodded slowly, her thoughts still tangled with the confrontation. Shoko gently redirected the conversation, sensing a need for a lighter topic. "So, how was New York? Satoru has been hogging you so much that we haven't had the time to catch up!"

Kasaii chuckled. "Well... it's different. Busy, chaotic, loud, so full of life. I miss some things about Japan, though. The food, the people. And sometimes, the quieter moments. You could barely go an hour there without hearing some damn siren."

Shoko smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "And what about the people there? Any handsome sorcerers catching your eye?"

Kasaii rolled her eyes playfully. "You know I don't have time for that, Shoko. Besides, there's this man in my dreams."

"For how beautiful you are, I didn't expect you to be hallucinating your men." Shoko chuckled.

"Oi! They're dreams about an era long ago, about a man who looks awfully like Sukuna and a woman who awfully looks like me. They're so vivid, I can still remember them awake," Kasaii said, her voice full of confusion.

Shoko's expression grew serious as she listened. "That's intriguing. Have you been able to piece together any of the details?"

Kasaii shook her head. "Not really. They come in fragments. Sometimes, it's a conversation, other times, a battle. But the emotions are intense, they're so... real?"

Shoko considered this for a moment. "It sounds like you're tapping into something deeper, perhaps even a past life connection. It's not unheard of, especially with the kind of power and history you have."

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Outside the room, Gojo paced restlessly.

He felt some guilt for not being there with her, frustration at the situation, and an overwhelming need to protect her. The minutes felt like days as he waited for Shoko to finish her treatment, so he decided to buy her some food to get his mind off of the worst. As the evening deepened and the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Gojo returned to the school with a bag full of takeout.

Watching from the small circular door winder, when he saw Kasaii sit up, he immediately burst the door open and rushed into the room. "Is she okay now? Can I talk to her?" he demanded, visibly agitated from waiting.

Shoko sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. She's fine. Just don't stress her out, okay?"

Ignoring her warning, Gojo practically sprinted to Kasaii's side, his eyes scanning her for any signs of injury. "Are you really okay? I heard about what happened. I know you must be starving. I got your favorites..." His voice trailed off as Kasaii placed a hand on his arm.

Her touch was gentle and calming. "I'm fine, Satoru. Just a little bruised. Shoko took good care of me, don't worry."

The aroma of freshly made sushi and steaming ramen wafted through the air, immediately bringing a smile to Kasaii's face— her eyes lit up just like a kid's. "Sushi and ramen?" He's never seen her this happy in a long time. He can't believe she just fought a special grade and Sukuna.

He tried to shrug his beating heart nonchalantly. "From Iruca, of course."

The room fell into a comfortable silence, and Shoko watched the exchange with a knowing smile, her earlier irritation with Gojo dissipating. Such a hopeless guy.

"Alright, lovebirds," Shoko teased lightly, breaking the silence. "Kasaii needs rest, Satoru you need to stop hovering, and I have work to do. So, as much as I missed this little reunion, leave me in peace, please."

Gojo rolled his eyes but stood up, a reluctant smile playing on his lips. "Fine, fine. But I'm walking you home. No arguments," he says, pointing a finger at Kasaii in mock sternness.

Kasaii chuckled, nodding. "Okay, Okay! Just let me change, and I'll be outside as ordered your highness."

As Gojo finally left the room, Shoko turned to Kasaii with a raised eyebrow. "You know he worries because he cares, right?"

Kasaii nodded, a wistful look in her eyes. "I know."