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

131 ~ Hundred And Thirty-One

[N]anami didn't even glance up from the newspaper he was flipping through. "I'm sure absorbing my cursed energy wouldn't have produced the same effect as Gojo's."

You raised a brow, watching him casually, a hint of curiosity in your expression. Somehow, despite his composed demeanor, there was a certain charm to Nanami. The kind that made you wonder what went on behind those perpetually tired eyes.

"What do you mean by that?" you asked, your voice steady, though you were half-distracted by the couch beneath you, which still carried the faint scent of Gojo—his cologne, mixed with something sweet and slightly herbal. It was oddly comforting, like it had seeped into the fabric.

Nanami didn't bother looking up. "Exactly what I said," he replied flatly, flipping the next page of his paper. He was on the opposite couch, legs crossed, the very image of calm. "If you need something from Gojo, just ask him. Don't drag me or Shoko into whatever games you two are playing."

A smirk tugged at the corner of your lips. Typical Nanami, blunt and straightforward. But you weren't about to lose your cool. You'd learned control over the years—it was crucial when dealing with people like him. If you gave in, even for a second, you'd lose the upper hand.

"I don't know what you're talking about," you stated evenly.

Nanami sighed, finally lowering the newspaper and placing it on the coffee table. His gaze met yours, but his expression remained unreadable. "I'm willing to bet you knew my cursed energy wouldn't have helped as much as his."

"And why do you think that?" you asked, leaning back slightly, arms crossed as you kept your tone even.

"Gojo's got the Six Eyes. That alone makes his cursed energy... different," Nanami explained, mirroring your action as he spoke. "It's refined to a level that's beyond what any of us can manage because he can read cursed energy in a way no one else can. It's like his energy is cleaner, more controlled."

Your brow twitched slightly at that. "And?"

"The way you described cursed energy," Nanami continued, "you said sorcerers' energy is more refined, while curses' energy is cruder. I've never thought of it in those terms, but I can see where you're coming from."

You nodded slowly, acknowledging his point. "Yes, that's correct."

Nanami's eyes narrowed in thought. "We usually just call it ominous when it comes from curses, not crude. But if what you're saying is true, Gojo's cursed energy is on another level because of his six eyes"

"That doesn't make yours any less potent, Nanami-san," you responded, trying to maintain some semblance of diplomacy.

The blonde let out a quiet huff. "Maybe, but I doubt it would have had the same effect."

"True," you admitted, nodding. "But I wasn't lying when I asked for your cursed energy. I was testing something."

Nanami's gaze sharpened, quickly picking up on that. "I thought you said you weren't using yourself as a test subject."

"I wasn't," you quickly clarified, though the pause that followed was enough to make Nanami sigh again. He leaned forward, pouring you a cup of tea and sliding it your way.

"What are you really aiming for?" The blonde's voice was calm, but there was a trace of curiosity, like he was almost willing to entertain whatever idea you were working on.

You took the cup, mulling over how to frame your explanation. "Picture it this way," you started, taking a slow sip of the tea. "A sorcerer's cursed energy is like clear, purified water. But cursed energy from a spirit? That's more like polluted water. If someone drinks clean water, they feel refreshed, right? But if they drink polluted water, they could get sick."

The blonde nodded, the gears turning in his mind. "So, you're saying the cleaner the cursed energy, the better your body reacts to it. But if it's too crude, it overwhelms your system."

"Exactly." You set the cup down, leaning forward slightly. "When I absorb cursed energy from a sorcerer, especially one like Gojo, it's refined, so there's little risk. It can even help increase my resistance to cursed energy overall. But if I absorb crude, raw cursed energy from a spirit, it overwhelms me, causing side effects like headaches and other symptoms."

Nanami rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "And that's why you needed Gojo's energy—to flush out the residue from the curses."

You nodded, sipping the tea again. "Exactly. Yours would've worked too, but his energy's... purer. It's like using filtered water to wash out toxins. The cruder energy from the curses was causing the damage, but... his energy neutralized it, somehow. That's why I felt better after taking it in."

Nanami's gaze was steady, yet critical. "Relying on Gojo isn't a sustainable solution, is it?"

You nodded, your tone soft. "I know. But I've been working on something else."

His eyebrow quirked at that. "And what is that?"

You allowed yourself a small smile. "A way to filter the cursed energy from curses—clean it up before I absorb it. If I can do that, I'll reduce the side effects, maybe even eliminate them over time."

Nanami listened intently, his fingers lightly tapping against his folded arms. "Filtering crude cursed energy... It could work in theory. But what about compatibility? Different types of cursed energy don't mix well—you know that."

You paused, letting his question sink in. "I've thought about that. I'm not entirely sure yet, but I believe there's a way to manipulate my own cursed energy—adjust its flow or composition to adapt. If I can fine-tune it, even the more toxic, incompatible energies could become manageable."

Nanami didn't respond immediately, but you could see him pondering over whatever you'd just say. The idea was bold—ambitious, even. Gojo, with all the power granted by his Six Eyes, couldn't pull off what you were suggesting. But that was the difference, wasn't it?

Gojo's Six Eyes allowed him to perceive cursed energy in extraordinary detail, tracking its flow and unraveling the intricacies of techniques. But your gift operated on a different level. You sensed cursed energy with sharpened precision, allowing you to feel and distinguish between various types of cursed energy with flawless accuracy—something perhaps even Gojo's flawless vision couldn't fully replicate.

On top of that, you had the rare ability to absorb nearly any kind of cursed energy, even from incompatible sources. This gave you a significant advantage since it meant greater adaptability.

"It's a bold move, and if you can manage the balance, you could tackle the core problem. But working with raw cursed energy is risky. The margin for error is thin."

You met his gaze, raising a finger for emphasis. "I'm aware of the risks, Nanami-san. But if I do succeed, it could make a significant difference. I wouldn't have to deal with the seizures anymore."

For a brief moment, the blonde's stern demeanor softened, a hint of respect crossed his shaded eyes. "If anyone can pull it off, it's you."

A flicker of gratitude crossed your features. It was rare to see Nanami's subtle kindness beneath his blunt exterior. But given his line of work, you could appreciate why he kept his compassion under wraps.

"I was actually wondering, Nanami-san," you started, shifting into a more relaxed position on the couch, elbow resting on the armrest and face propped on your hand, "Any words on today's mission?"

Time was actually running short, and Gojo's test lingered in the back of your mind like a ticking clock. Every day felt like a countdown, pushing you to aim for quick progress.

Nanami glanced at you, adjusting his glasses. "Apologies, Y/N. I've got other plans this evening."

"Is that so?" you muttered thoughtfully, pushing yourself up from the couch. "I should probably meet up with Shoko then. Promised her breakfast," you added, stretching slightly, feeling a little more at ease. "Oh, and thanks, by the way."

He arched an eyebrow, clearly not following. "For what?"

You shot him a knowing smile. "For not taking any missions today. It's almost like you timed it perfectly with my... condition. But I'm fine now."

He gave a barely noticeable reaction—clearing his throat, trying to maintain his composure, but you caught the slight flush creeping up his neck. "Right. I'll see you later."

Cute.

Sure, he wasn't in Gojo's league when it came to godlike looks, but in moments like this, the subtle charm he had was impossible to miss.