Bound In Love's Curse [Gojo Satoru x Female Readers]

85 ~ Eighty-Five

[A] few hours prior...

The clacking of heels echoed through the wooden floors of the tea house, a sound that cut through the quiet like a knife.

What was once a place of elegance and warmth now felt unsettling, almost grim. The recent murders had cast a shadow over the house, turning it from a cozy retreat into something that felt straight out of a horror movie.

She stopped by one of the large windows, looking out at the garden. Even in the dim light, it was still beautiful, meticulously kept and full of life. But tonight, something felt off. A few crows, their eyes glowing red in the dark, perched on a nearby tree, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The sun had long set, and as Mei Mei scanned the surroundings, she mused that any place could take on a sinister edge at night.

"It's been a while since it was just the two of us on a mission," a familiar voice cut through the silence, drawing Mei Mei's attention.

She turned to see Utahime approaching, her long, blackish-purple hair cascading down her back. The thin strands tied behind her head accentuated her sharp features, while the scar crossing the bridge of her nose added a sense of toughness to her usually composed appearance.

"Indeed," Mei Mei replied, her lips curling into a sly smirk. There was something almost teasing in her tone, the kind of playful edge she reserved for those she respected.

"Ugh, I still can't believe I'm stuck running errands for Gojo of all people," Utahime grumbled, her voice tinged with frustration and resignation as the heels of her boots clicked against the wooden floor.

Mei Mei chuckled softly, peeling herself away from the window as she began a casual stroll around the tea house's perimeter. "Maybe it's because he knows you'll do it. Besides, he does pay well."

"Yeah, for you," Utahime sighed, trailing behind the pale blue-haired, her expression caught between annoyance and reluctant acceptance. "He just asked for a favor, so here I am."

Mei Mei arched an eyebrow, "I'll never understand that kind of commitment—one that involves no money, that is."

Utahime huffed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Not everything is about money, Mei Mei. But I suppose I can't expect you to see it that way."

"Seems like the rumors about you two aren't just rumors after all," Mei Mei remarked, her voice laced with a hint of cunning tease.

Utahime shot her a sharp look, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What rumors are you talking about?"

Mei Mei's dark brown eyes sparkled with amusement as she turned slightly, her pale blue hair catching the dim light. "The ones involving you and Satoru, of course," she replied, her tone light but knowing.

Her companion froze mid-step, her heart skipping a beat as her eyes widened in shock. "Me and Gojo? There's a rumor about us?" Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and dread. "Please tell me it's nothing serious."

Mei Mei stopped too, turning to fully face Utahime. Her expression was almost unreadable, but the hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "You know how it works, Utahime," she said, her voice smooth and measured. "Information always comes with a price. But for you, I might be willing to give a discount."

There was a brief, tense silence as Utahime weighed her options, clearly torn. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine, I'll pay whatever you want. Just spill it."

Mei Mei's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Word is, Satoru's been making a habit of visiting your quarters, and not just for official business."

Utahime's face turned a deep shade of red. "W-What? That's absurd! Who's spreading such nonsense?"

"Is it nonsense, though?"

"There's nothing between us!" Utahime protested, but her voice wavered slightly, and she averted her gaze.

"But?"

The blackish-purple haired lady seemed to hesitate, the silence stretching on before she finally admitted, "We... kissed. Once. But it was a long time ago, during one of Shoko's parties. I was drunk—really drunk."

Mei Mei's smirk deepened. "Is that so?"

"And yes, he did visit a few times, but it's been less frequent lately," Utahime added, almost defensively.

"Interesting," the pale blue-haired mused, resuming her walk, her eyes casually scanning the vacant rooms as if searching for something more than just answers. "You know; Satoru isn't exactly hard on the eyes."

Utahime let out a frustrated sigh, quickening her pace to keep up. "I'm aware."

Mei Mei cast a sideways glance at her companion, her voice taking on a slightly more cunning tone. "He might've set his sights on someone else recently."

The blackish-purple haired nearly stumbled, her breath catching in her throat. "What do you mean?"

Mei Mei shrugged, a sly chuckle escaping her lips, the mischief in her eyes unmistakable. "Just making an observation."

This made her companion's mind raced, piecing together the subtle hints. "Wait... Don't tell me—Y/N?"

Just then, an eerie, chilling laughter reverberated through the hall, echoing off the wooden walls like the taunt of a lurking specter. The sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, sending a shiver down Utahime's spine.

The air grew heavy with an unsettling presence, the once quiet tea house now filled with ominous murmurs. Whispers seemed to seep from the shadows themselves, growing louder with each passing second, until they formed a haunting chant: "Give her... give her back... give her to us. Y/N..."

Utahime's pulse quickened, her senses thrown off by the disembodied voices.

The words clung to the air, thick with malice and desperation, wrapping around them like a suffocating fog. Mei Mei's usually calm demeanor shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing as she scanned their surroundings, but she showed no fear—only sharp, calculating focus.

"Seems like we've got some unwanted guests," Mei Mei said softly, her voice steady but carrying an edge of caution. She rested her hand on the hilt of her battle axe, her fingers brushing the cold metal. "I'd assumed this place had been thoroughly cleared. Guess we've stirred something up."

Utahime nodded in agreement. "It was supposed to be secure. I didn't set a veil because I thought it was safe. Clearly, that was a mistake on my part."

"No need to stress, Utahime. We can handle this. Let's just clean things up quickly and move on."