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

142 ~ Hundred And Forty-Two

[M]ei Mei leaned back into the plush leather of the couch, a glint of amusement flashing in her sharp eyes as she slid a thin folder across the coffee table towards Gojo. Her perfectly manicured fingers tapped lightly on the folder's edge as she spoke, her voice low and melodic.

"I knew Y/N was a golden goose," she purred, her smile sleek and unapologetic. "Thanks to her, I'm hitting the jackpot."

Gojo, perched with his legs crossed and one arm draped casually along the back of the couch opposite hers, simply flashed her that signature smirk of his—cocky, but never overplayed.

He reached for the folder without a word, his fingers brushing the cover as he flipped it open, already half-distracted.

First things first, the intel he'd requested.

"Who is Shinichi Arai?" He asked, not taking his eyes off the contents. The question came out almost too casually, but there was an undertone there—an itch that had been nagging at him ever since you uttered that name.

He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

Mei Mei chuckled softly, the sound dripping with knowing satisfaction. "Sinichi Arai was Y/N's high school sweetheart," she informed, her tone light but laced with something sharper, almost amused by Gojo's interest. "Same age, same class as her brother Ryusaki L/N. Two years Y/N's senior. He cheated on her with her best friend." She paused just to see if Gojo would react.

He didn't—at least not visibly.

"Not only that, but he's the one who taught Y/N self-defense." Her eyes sparkled with dark amusement as she added, "Apparently, after one of her friends committed suicide, Y/N started getting bullied, and Arai stepped in. Guess he didn't feel guilty enough to stay faithful, though."

Gojo's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, the playful smirk he wore moments ago slipping into something more reflective. He let out a quiet sigh as he ran a hand through his snowy white hair, strands catching the light. Without the blindfold, his striking, crystalline eyes flickered with sharp calculation, staring off into the distance as though already piecing together a puzzle.

This wasn't just information—it was a glimpse into you. And somehow, everything began to click into place for him, falling with a weight that settled heavily in his gut.

It explained your guarded nature, the way you had been overly defensive when it came to him and Utahime. You'd been scarred, probably still carrying the weight of what happened with Sinichi Arai.

He didn't know the details of what you'd been through, couldn't begin to fully empathize, but he thought he understood now. And strangely, that stirred something uncomfortable within him, an unwelcome churning in the pit of his stomach.

He'd called you insecure once, when really, all you were... was hurt. Scarred. Maybe even scared.

He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he glanced back at Mei Mei, the weight of his thoughts heavy between them.

Wasn't he supposed to be the strongest? The one who gave others hope, the one who inspired them to rise above?

Yet, he'd misread you entirely.

Mei Mei's voice cut through the silence, smooth as silk. "There's one more thing, Gojo. I should admit, digging into this guy, Arai, led me to something unexpected about Y/N."

That caught his attention. He straightened slightly, the faintest hint of a frown ghosting over his usually relaxed features before it vanished, masked again by his usual cool demeanor. "What do you mean?"

The pale blue-haired lady smiled, her amusement lingering as if she enjoyed holding the reins of this conversation. "Did you know Y/N was under investigation for the supposed murder of her friend? The one who took her own life?"

For the first time in their conversation, Gojo's reaction was more visible—a slight narrowing of his eyes, the subtle shift in the way he held himself. "What?" he asked, voice low and edged with disbelief. "You said it was a suicide."

"It was," Mei Mei confirmed with a casual shrug. "But that didn't stop people from thinking she was involved. There was even an uproar at the school, demanding an investigation. Plenty of rumors, accusations... things got messy. But here's the kicker: the case was ruled as resolved because they found someone else's hand in it. And guess who that someone was?"

A heavy pause followed, Gojo feeling an unshakable weight settle in his chest. His instincts, sharp as ever, told him he wasn't going to like where this was headed.

"Naobito Zen'in," Mei Mei finally revealed, her tone still light, but her eyes glittering with intrigue. "He's the lead I uncovered when I started investigating this Sinichi Arai guy."

Gojo's expression didn't change much, but there was a shift—just a slight hardening in his gaze, a realization of how deep this went.

Of all the names, Naobito Zen'in wasn't one he wanted in this mess.

For a moment, the room felt heavier, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Gojo knew this was bigger than anything he'd imagined, and for the first time in a while, it wasn't something he could brush off with a laugh or a cocky comment.

"Why was Naobito Zen'in involved?" His voice, low but sharp, cut through the thickening tension in the room. His fingers drummed lightly on the table, though the casual motion was betrayed by the tightness in his jaw.

This was starting to feel like more than just information—it was a revelation that sent a chill creeping up his spine.

Mei Mei's lips curved in a knowing smile, enjoying the subtle shift in his demeanor. She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a particularly juicy secret. "It's no secret the Zen'in clan covets power, Gojo. They've always had their eyes on young talent that could elevate their family's standing, solidifying their place among the strongest. And when I followed this lead, I discovered something interesting. You ever heard of the Reiko clan?"

Gojo frowned, unfamiliar with the name. "Reiko?"

"An old clan, not particularly strong or famous now, but they hailed from the Heian era. They were wiped out because of their cursed technique—deemed too dangerous, too... taboo," she explained. Her voice dropped as she continued, the words deliberate, calculated. "Their lineage carried the ability to manipulate time."

Gojo's gaze sharpened at that. Time manipulation. That certainly struck a chord.

"But," Mei Mei added, "that wasn't the only reason they were eradicated. The Reiko had a tradition. To preserve the purity of their bloodline—and the strength of their cursed technique—they practiced a ritual that involved a maiden blessed with the gift of time. She would be paired with a close kin to keep their power intact. Cousins with cousins, brothers with—"

"Okay, I get it," the strongest interrupted, his face darkening. His voice cut through like a blade, an unmistakable edge of impatience. "What does this have to do with Y/N and the Zen'in clan?"

The sorceress smirked, leaning back in her chair. "The Reiko weren't entirely wiped out. There was a collateral branch of the family that survived. And Y/N? She's a descendant of that branch."

This caused the white-haired sorcerer's eyes to widen slightly, but he quickly masked his reaction. Mei Mei continued, undeterred.

"That branch didn't engage in those... questionable practices," she clarified, "but still, their bloodline carried the potential. And although the Reiko believed that procreating with outsiders weakened their power, something changed after centuries. A maiden blessed by time was born again—Y/N."

This was a lot to take in, especially considering how deeply it involved you. Gojo exhaled sharply, leaning back in his seat as he absorbed the weight of the revelation. "So Naobito Zen'in found out about Y/N."

The sorceress nodded, her gaze sharp. "Somehow, yes. Naobito saw her as a golden goose. A rare opportunity to bring that power into the Zen'in clan. He entered into a contractual agreement to have Y/N betrothed to his son."

"Naoya..." Gojo muttered under his breath, his lips curling in bitter distaste.

You and Naoya? Tch. Something twisted in the pit of his stomach—disgust, distaste, maybe even jealousy. He couldn't quite pin it down. But one thing was clear: he'd make sure no one ever got close enough to harm you again.

"Exactly," Mei Mei confirmed. "Naoya Zen'in was meant to be Y/N's fiancé. If not for one small... complication."

The strongest arched an eyebrow, sensing where this was headed but dreading the answer. "Ryusaki L/N."

"Correct. Y/N's older brother. He coveted her power for himself and didn't intend to let her be handed off to anyone else. Not the Zen'in, and certainly not Naoya. That's when things spiraled."

Gojo's gaze darkened, his mind racing to connect the dots. "So the Zen'ins sent assassins after Ryusaki."

"Exactly. They wanted Ryusaki out of the way. But things didn't go as they planned. The assassins failed, and it became a bigger mess when Utahime, got involved. She stumbled onto the whole ordeal."

"So the Zen'in clan wanted Y/N... for her cursed technique, for her bloodline. And Ryusaki wanted her power for himself."

"That's right. And in the midst of all this? Y/N was caught between two dangerous forces—her brother and one of the most powerful clans in jujutsu society."

Gojo leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the folder in his hand. His mind was racing, connecting pieces of a puzzle that, until now, he hadn't even realized existed. And yet, through all of it, one thought persisted.

You were at the center of this? A target. And he'd never even known.

"Now what?" Mei Mei asked, her voice light but with a certain knowing undertone.

Gojo exhaled, his fingers gripping the edge of the folder a little tighter. "Now, I make sure they understand who they're dealing with." His voice, calm but laced with hints of deadly intent, sent a chill through the air.

Mei Mei simply produced another smirk. "Good luck with that. You'll need it."