Unbound By Love's Grace [Gojo Satoru x Female Readers]

1 ~ One

[A] particular corner of Kyoto Station was sealed off, hidden under the pretext of urgent maintenance.

Civilians wandered near, some curious glances cast toward the blocked-off area, but a team of police officers—mobilized for what looked like a minor disruption—kept everyone from getting too close. The real reason was buried under layers of bureaucracy and need-to-know security—Special Grades had been sighted, and where they lurked, chaos followed.

You stood at the edge of the zone, your fingers hovering in the air, ready to set the veil. The familiar energy buzzed beneath your skin, coiled and waiting for your command. "I'll set the veil," you told Gojo, your voice quiet but steady.

He stood a few paces ahead, his blindfold slightly askew as he surveyed the area. This time, he didn't stop you—he didn't need to. His usual playful attitude was subdued, replaced by something colder, more focused. You could feel the tension simmering off him like a pressure about to explode.

"No objections?" you mused, half-joking, fingers twitching with pent-up curse energy.

"Not today," he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips, and you instantly understood why. He needed to conserve every bit of strength for what lay ahead. The unspoken tension in his words lingered in the air.

Whatever was coming wouldn't be easy—not if Gojo was holding back now.

From behind, Ijichi's voice broke the silence. "Will you two be alright?"

The question came cautiously, laced with concern, and your head turned on instinct. His eyes darted to yours briefly before quickly shifting away, as if he regretted the moment of hesitation. His shoulders, usually stiff with anxiety, seemed even tenser now, like he was bracing himself for what was about to unfold.

"That's an odd way to phrase it," you remarked with a touch of amusement, the tension briefly easing in the corners of your mouth.

Ijichi's lips parted, as if to explain himself, but Gojo beat him to it. "Don't sweat it, Ijichi," he cut in, his voice light but steady. He rolled his neck lazily, the fabric of his collar shifting as he moved. "We've got this."

He didn't need to say more; you knew this was Gojo's way of trying to keep things light. But the weight of the situation hung between you, unmistakable.

Rolling your eyes, you began the incantation under your breath. The words flowed like second nature, as if your body was responding to a deeper instinct. Fingers lifted, weaving through the energy around you as the air thickened with the veil's presence. Darkness rippled from the edges of the station, swallowing the space in a suffocating cloak.

The air felt colder, heavier—like the world had shifted into a more dangerous dimension, one where only those who could see the cursed world would dare tread.

Falling into step behind Gojo, you kept your pace steady, though a nervous hum of energy curled through your veins. It wasn't fear exactly. More like a cold alertness, the kind that came before stepping into a fight with curses.

Gojo's gait remained infuriatingly casual, hands stuffed in his pockets like he had all the time in the world. He didn't need to mask his unease with false confidence. His cursed energy buzzed just beneath the surface, coiled and ready, telling you all you needed to know: he was already locked in, assessing the unseen threats lurking ahead.

The station's dim corners stretched out before you, jagged shadows crawling along the concrete. They reminded you of a predator waiting to pounce, its breath held until the right moment. You could feel something there, hovering just beyond, waiting.

"Keep your eyes open," his voice came out softer this time, devoid of its usual playfulness. There was no teasing smirk, no cocky grin. His tone was low, serious. That alone sent a shiver through you.

Gojo wasn't often like this—he was rarely rattled by anything, and when he was, it usually meant you were both in for something big.

A silent nod passed between you, and the air thrummed with tension. Your cursed energy flickered like static around you, a natural response to the unease crawling under your skin.

The station's flickering lights and the eerie silence were unsettling. You cracked your neck, trying to shake off the stiffness creeping into your muscles. "What exactly are we looking for here?" you asked, keeping your voice low. "Shouldn't curses be out and about by now? It's dark enough."

Gojo slowed his steps slightly, coming to a stop in front of a door marked Staff Only. His fingers grazed the handle, but he didn't open it right away. "An innate domain," he replied, his voice almost thoughtful.

The term felt foreign in your head, unfamiliar. You knew better than to ask right now—Gojo tended to dive into explanations at his own pace—but sensing your confusion, he offered more. "An innate domain is a cursed spirit's natural space, created unconsciously by the sheer power of its cursed energy. Think of it as a pocket dimension that reflects the spirit's nature."

"So, not only do these things feed off negative emotions, but they can also create alternate realities?" You couldn't help the frown that tugged at your brow. The idea of curses creating their own dimensions didn't exactly sit well with you.

Gojo flashed a grin, playful despite the tension. "Bingo." He turned, holding up two fingers like he was back in teaching mode. "Lesson two, Y/N," he pointed out, his voice shifting into that familiar mentor tone that you couldn't help but find endearing. "Every sorcerer and curse has an Innate Domain that reflects their essence. Unlike regular techniques, these domains are deeply personal and can manifest in various ways. While special grade curses often have the ability to activate their innate domains unconsciously, sorcerers can consciously create their own, regardless of their grade."

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what's the catch?"

"Here's the thing: Innate Domains aren't as foolproof as Domain Expansions. They give the user a significant advantage on their battlefield, allowing them to manipulate the environment and utilize their cursed energy to create traps or illusions. However, they don't guarantee a hit like a Domain Expansion does, which is designed to ensure that every attack connects with the target."

Your frown deepened, trying to process the new information. "Wait, what's a Domain Expansion again?"

There was a beat of awkward silence, and Gojo's face shifted slightly as he realized he'd left that part out. "Oh... right. I didn't mention that before, did I?" His sheepish tone should've annoyed you, but instead, it earned an exasperated sigh.

"No, you didn't." You stepped past him, pushing the door open with more force than necessary, irritation making you bold. Maybe a little too bold.

"W-wait, Y/N! Don't—"

Before Gojo could finish his warning, the door shut behind you with a soft click, and when you glanced back, he was gone. Vanished. No door. No Gojo.

A hint of panic shot through you. Wait a minute... did you just walk straight into an innate domain? Without Gojo? Fantastic.

You stood still for a moment, heart pounding in your chest as the realization sank in. The door had disappeared, and if everything Gojo had said was right—which it usually was—you were now sealed inside the curse's domain. Alone. And if that wasn't bad enough, Gojo was locked outside, likely trying to find another way in.

Rubbing the bridge of your nose, you cursed under your breath. "Great," you muttered to yourself. "Just great."

The corridor before you stretched endlessly, its walls made of crumbling stone and twisted metal, like something out of a nightmare. Rusted chains hung from the invisible ceiling, swaying gently as if they were alive. In the distance, faint echoes of cries and whispers drifted toward you, the sound twisting in the air like a taunt.

Cold vapor escaped your lips as you exhaled. The temperature had dropped, and that could only mean one thing—a special grade was close. Very close.

You'd never faced a special grade on your own before. Hell, you'd never faced one without Gojo or someone of his caliber by your side. A knot of fear tightened in your chest, but you forced yourself to think logically. You had two options: either wait for Gojo to find a way in and hope he showed up before things got ugly, or... you could try to exorcise the cursed spirit yourself.

A moment passed. You tapped your heel against the ground, weighing your options. Neither was ideal, but you weren't about to sit around and do nothing.

"Alright," you mumbled, stepping forward into the darkness. "Let's do this."

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