The Binding Vow of Lazarus

Chapter 8

Satoru stood a fair distance away from the rundown apartment building where Toji Fushiguro lived with his two children. It was a humble, almost pitiful place, especially for someone like Toji, who had once been feared as one of the most dangerous assassins in the Jujutsu world. Satoru’s six eyes observed the scene with unnerving clarity, every detail imprinted in his mind as he watched from the shadows.

Toji was sprawled out on the floor, his broad frame taking up most of the small living room floor. The television flickered in front of him, casting a dull blue light across the room. Satoru noted the way Toji lay there, completely relaxed, as if he had nothing in the world to worry about. It was almost... domestic.

Tsumiki, only about four or five, entered the room, holding a small cup with both hands. She carefully handed it to Toji, who accepted it with a gruff word of thanks. A small smile tugged at the corners of Tsumiki’s lips, and Satoru felt a pang of something unfamiliar in his chest. Was it guilt? It gnawed at him as he continued to watch.

Moments later, a tiny figure stepped into the room—Megumi. He couldn’t be more than three or four, his big, dark eyes a striking contrast to the innocence of his round face. He walked over to Toji and plopped down beside him, content just to be near his father. Toji, for his part, didn’t push him away. He allowed the boy to stay close, a rare moment of tenderness that Satoru would never have associated with the man he was about to confront.

Satoru clenched his fists, his mind racing through his plan. He had every intention of killing Toji and taking the children back to the Gojo estate, where they could be safe, away from the life of an assassin. But seeing them like this, a family—even a broken, unconventional one—made him hesitate. Megumi barely remembered any of this and Tsumiki never spoke of it. Then again, both children did mention that Toji would just disappear for long periods of time. This probably wasn't a common scene.

That hesitation lasted only a moment before Satoru steeled himself. He needed to do this. It wasn’t just about stopping Toji from taking the star plasma vessel mission in the future. It was about preventing anything from happening to Sarah and the horrors that awaited them all. And most of all, it was about ensuring that the chain of events that would lead to Suguru's downfall would be stopped before it could even begin.

Taking a deep breath, Satoru released his cursed energy, letting it ripple through the air like a shockwave. Inside the apartment, Toji immediately reacted. His head snapped up off his fist, and he turned his gaze directly toward where Satoru was standing outside. For a long moment, they just stared at each other, as still as possible.

Toji slowly got to his feet, careful not to disturb Megumi, who looked up at him with curious eyes. Without a word, Toji walked to the door and slipped on sandals, stepping outside to confront Satoru. He stood there in the doorway, scratching his abs lazily, as if this were just another ordinary day.

“What the hell do you want, Gojo?" Toji asked, his tone laced with mild annoyance, "Shouldn't you be in school or somethin'?"

Satoru didn’t waste time. “Are you still in the assassin business?” he asked, his voice low.

Toji’s eyebrow arched at the blunt question. “No. I left that life behind," he answered.

Satoru’s eyes narrowed. “Would you do it again if you had a good enough opportunity?” he asked, looking over his round sunglasses.

Toji considered this for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he shrugged. “If the money was good, then yeah, I would," he admitted.

Satoru’s heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his voice steady as he pressed on. “The star plasma vessel is going to be found next year," he explained, "Tengen will want to assimilate her. There are people who will want her dead.”