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Kusuo wasn’t new to Tokyo, even though he’s never lived there or visited often. It was rare for him to be in large cities, too many people in one place for him to relax, then again when has he ever had time to relax?
At least this time he wasn’t there to play a stupid game. He was out because he heard there’ll be a sale going on at his favorite cafe. Sadly, the sale nor the place itself, didn’t have his favorite sweet included, he almost went home when he decided to get something else that caught his attention.
Kikufuku.
It wasn’t on his top lists, but it definitely wasn’t on his least favorites, it only depended on what type of kikufuku it was. Kusuo wasn’t a picky person in general but like any other regular normal human being, he has a specific taste.
So, when scanning the menu, he decided to get the zunda and cream kikufuku, which was on sale and limited edition. The line to the cafe was long, it didn’t help that it was in the middle of summer and was almost 90 degrees out. It was agonizing to smell the deodorant slowly come off and reveal a sweaty smelly old man in front of him. People’s thoughts had become white noise to Kusuo during the time being, his only real concern was once he got to the front of the line if they would have the Kikufuku.
He slowly wondered if it was worth the kikufuku but after what seemed like an eternity, which was only 30 minutes or more, he was finally able to order. Luckily enough, maybe some sort of apology from the heavens, he was able to get the last zunda and cream kikufuku they had.
He paid and was given it in less than 5 minutes.
He stepped away from the place, bag in hand, and looked for a spot where he could eat. It would be a waste to teleport home since his parents were there. He loved them but they could be a lot at times, his dad especially. He didn’t want him to nag Kusuo to give him some Kikufuku or nag him about something else that was unimportant.
There was a harsh tap on his shoulder making him turn around to assist whoever needed his attention. Was it an elder who needed some help, or maybe an adult who needs directions? Yet instead of a man who wanted to know the nearest bus stop was, he was staring at different kinds of blues, a vast ocean of nothing and everything, a sky that went onto infinity. Eyes that were staring right back at him, wide and stunned as he was. Once they were stone, polished and pristine, now they were alive and grown.
He barely took a step back before his forearm was grabbed harshly, wrinkling the sleeves and slowly cutting off blood flow. His body went still, tightening the hold on the bag. Why was he here? Why all the places he had to be here? Why him?
“It's you,” The grip was tightened, “from the park.”
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about—’
“Your mouth didn’t move again.”
Kusuo tugged away, annoyance setting in his chest. Was he going to have to attack again? That thought set a deep unsettled feeling in him, memories twisted in his head how they both attacked each other. He didn’t want to cause a scene, nor did he want to fight this guy.
“Who- no um. How about we just talk?” He took a step forward towards Kusuo, making him tense up and look directly at the guy. The action made the guy freeze up, brows furrowing in what looks to be confusion and a hint of irritation.
‘Talk about what? There’s nothing to talk about.’
“Yes, there is!” This seemed to set the guy off, trying to pull Kusuo closer and taking another step forward. “Look, I just want answers, that's all I want.”
Kusuo tugged and attempted to step away, using some of his strength to do so, but it only dragged the guy. He could feel his arm going numb. “Listen to me, all I want to know is how you—”
‘Shut up and let go.’
The last two words seem to do the opposite. Instead of letting him go, he pulled Kusuo with outrageous strength. Arms wrapped around him, pressing him against the person tightly. Kusuo clutched onto the back of the shirt, teeth gritting together as he looked up at the person.
‘The hell are you—’
“I’m not letting you go. Not again.”
The so-called hug was tightened, the guy's head resting on top of Kusuo’s.
‘Please don’t go. Please don’t go. Please don’t go.’
Kusuo’s chest felt like pins and needle, should he explain what happened? Would that make this guy go away and leave him alone? Something in the back of his head whispered that it wasn’t a good idea, but he pushed it down when hearing the guy’s pleas in his head.
He sighed, having the urge to bang his head across concrete.
‘Fine but let me go first.’
The guy, whoever the hell he was, pulled semi back, now having his hands on his shoulders. Kusuo glared at him but sighed when the person glared back at him. Kusuo grabbed the man's wrist, pulling him towards somewhere they could sit. He finds a secluded bench near a park, ironic but this place will have to do for now.
‘Ask your questions.’ Kusuo lets go and sits over at the bench placing the bag of sweets next to him. The guy stands and stares for a moment before crossing his arms and puffing up his chest.
“Who are you?”
‘I’m not giving out that information.’
“Wha–?! You said you were going to answer my questions!”
‘Who I am doesn’t concern you. Don’t you just want to know how I turned you into stone?’
Seems like that boosted the guy’s confidence as a smirk appeared on his face. “So, you admit you turned me into stone!”
It only made Kusuo roll his eyes, catching a glimpse of the sweet bag and shrugging. Since he was already here, why not eat some kikufuku? He opened the bag and dug out one of the kikufuku’s there.
‘And what is it you need me to answer?’ Kusuo asked as he took a bite. The kikufuku was sweet, very sweet, maybe a little too sweet for Kusuo but it was better than nothing.
The guy only stared for a moment, looking confused. ‘He’s not gonna defend himself?’
“Well, how did you turn me into stone, first of all.” he shifted his arms as he observed Kusuo. This made him pause, wondering how the hell is he gonna word this or even get away with it. He couldn’t lie and say it wasn’t him, he already exposed himself. He sighed once more. Wow he was sighing a lot today.
‘You know medusa?’
The guy raised an eyebrow, “uh, yeah?”
‘My eyes are somewhat like that. If I look at anyone with them, they turn to stone.’
The guy stood there for a bit and even though he could hear his thoughts, he could also hear the wheels turning in his head. He looked dazed almost, eyebrows furrowing with confusion and concentration.
‘His eyes can turn...? But how? Is it some sort of technique? Does he even know about Jujutsu tech, or even curses?’
Now Kusuo was also confused. What did he mean by technique or curses? What's Jujutsu tech? Something poked and prodded at Kusuo to learn more about it, curiosity spiked at that point. He couldn’t say anything though, nor pry as this was the guy's thoughts. Does he even know Kusuo can read his mind? Most likely not but it’s better to be wary.
“But you’re looking at me right now.”
‘Yes, and I have glasses.’
He blinked for a moment, cogs turning in his head as he looked back on the memory. ‘Now that I think about it, he did break his glasses when I used my technique...’
Wait, he used a ‘technique’ on Kusuo?
“Why don’t you use contacts though? Glasses are.. Well..”
‘Contacts don’t work, it’s the whole eye. Sclera and all.’
“Huh..”
Kusuo popped another kikufuku in his mouth, somewhat savoring the taste. This wasn’t his favorite flavor but definitely one that he would try if he had no other choice. He looked back at the guy to see him staring at the bag, one the hands clutching his sleeve.
‘I want one..’
‘Is that all you wanted answered?’
“Uh, well..” The guy, he really needed to learn this dude's name before he just started calling him a blue eyed Furby, glanced away for a moment. “Medusa’s power turns them into stone forever, yours doesn’t. Why?”
‘It’s just a back draw. If I turn someone into stone, they turn back in 24 hours.’
Blue eyed Furby was silent for a moment, reviewing the talk in his head. He made the decision to sit beside Kusuo, which was odd, why was he sitting beside him? Kusuo went over and took another kikufuku out.
‘You can read my mind, can’t you?’
Kusuo paused, glancing at the guy who was already staring at him. He did a cheeky grin, leaning towards Kusuo.
“Caught you.”
‘Like anyone would believe you.’
“True,” He leaned away, relaxing and crossing his legs on the bench, “but that doesn’t mean I can’t bug you with my thoughts.”
Kusuo only rolled his eyes, shoving down the feeling of wanting to murder the guy here and there. He didn’t want to create a scene, nor did he know who this guy even was. But did that matter? He knew about his telepathy and his petrification, wasn’t that enough reason to erase his memories?
There was a nudge at his head.
“You’re staring, am I too handsome for you?”
‘You look like a Furby, give me a break.’ Kusuo rolled his eyes once more before popping the kikufuku into his mouth.
“A Furby?! I’m handsome, thank you very much!” He put his hand on his chest for dramatic effect, but it only got a scoff from Kusuo instead of pity.
‘I have a question myself.’ Kusuo said, looking over the nearby playground. ‘What are sorcerers?’
‘He doesn’t know about...? Wait, that means it’s not a technique.’
‘Not sure what you mean by technique, but I assure you, it’s not.’
The guy looked surprised before going into a realization. “Right, you can hear my thoughts.”
‘You gonna answer my question?’
The Furby looking guy crossed his arms, looking at Kusuo with a smirk, as if he knew he had control. “And what if I don’t tell you?”
Kusuo only blinked, stood up, grabbed his bag and walked away.
‘Did he just-? Wait, hold on!’
Kusuo felt the back of his shirt getting yanked, making him stop and look at the Furby guy.
“I’ll tell you but give me your name first!”
‘No thanks, I can figure it out myself. And plus, I already told you stuff about me.’ Kusuo slapped his hand away, before going to walk away some more. He was yanked again, now turning almost fully around to see the guy looking at him with weird eyes.
‘I can’t let this guy go.’
‘And why can’t you let me go?’
“I- Well. Look, I’ll tell you about sorcerers alright.” The guy hesitantly let go, crossing his arms. “Just don’t go. Not yet.” ‘What the hell is with this guy?’
He wasn’t looking at him, clutching the sleeve of what looks to be his school uniform? Kusuo never seen a uniform like that but he sighed, nonetheless.
‘Fine, I still need to learn your name though or else I'll just keep calling you that Furby looking guy. ’ Kusuo rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“I don’t look like a Furby!”
‘Yeah sure.’ Kusuo shoved the bag into the guy's hands before walking towards the sidewalk. He could hear the guy grab onto it before rushing over to follow.
‘Where are we even going?’
‘I want something less sweet than that, by the way you can have it.’ Kusuo pointed at the bag Furby guy was holding.
‘I can..?’ There was a hesitant moment before he dived into the bag and ate one of the kikufuku’s in there, devouring it like it were to be stolen from him. Those must be his favorites.
‘Now explain.’
They both walk along the sidewalk, Kusuo scanning a few places while they pass. Most of them weren’t in Kusuo’s budget range and others didn’t look and sound appealing.
“Sorcerers are people who exorcize curses.”
‘Curses?’
“Things that take shape if there's enough cursed energy to make one.”
‘Cursed energy?’ Kusuo was severely confused, curiosity poking through it.
“Cursed energy is negative energy, aka your negative emotions turned into energy. Everyone has it, although few can control it.” Kusuo could see out of the corner of his eye the white-haired teenager glanced and smirked at him, as if to rub it in his face that he couldn’t use cursed energy. It irked him but he decided to not comment on it.
‘Then sorcerers are rare.’ It explains why Kusuo hasn’t met one yet, except this guy. ‘What about techniques?’
Kusuo spotted a small outdoor cafe, it looked cheap and also good from the customers' thoughts. Maybe Kusuo could finally have something sweet but not too sweet.
“Techniques... It’s an advanced way to use cursed energy, think of it as a power move.”
Kusuo hummed at that, going to the front of the corner at the shop. He ordered a small Purin and paid, then went to one of the outdoor tables to wait for the order.
The white-haired man sat across from him, eating the rest of kikufuku. His head was quiet for a moment and that only made Kusuo’s neck hair stand on edge for a moment.
“You have more powers, don’t you?” The white-haired man asked, resting his cheek on his palm as he popped a kikufuku in his mouth. This made Kusuo hesitate, knowing he could lie and say he didn’t have more powers. But there was a possibility that there's more to curses and sorcerers, and this guy knew all of it.
He still wanted more answers to it, there was a gut feeling the guy wasn’t sharing enough information. It made Kusuo’s skin itch as he weighed the consequences if he told this guy or not. He really shouldn’t, something in the back of his mind says he shouldn’t.
‘..And what if I do?’
“Can you tell me about them?” ‘He doesn't seem like he would say but it’s worth a shot!’
‘No.’ He was correct on that at least.
“Awh..” Furby man slumped onto his side of the table, his face pouting. Why is he pouting? Just because he wanted Kusuo to tell his powers to him and was refused? Shouldn’t he know it wasn’t gonna be easy? The hell was this guy's deal anyway.
‘Why do you even wanna know? Don’t you have your own power, or should I say techniques?’
“Yeah, but as far as I can see, you can’t control your cursed energy, yet you still possess some kind of power. It’s, well interesting.” He shifted his body, so his half upper torso was slumped chest first into the table, his chin resting as well as he looked up at Kusuo. He looked like a pathetic dog, at least he was handsome though.
Kusuo raised an eyebrow to that. Interesting? Kusuo guessed it was interesting to have powers, but shouldn’t that be said by normal people? Wasn’t this guy a sorcerer? And what did he mean by see?
Too many things weren’t being answered, at least to Kusuo.
‘How do you control your cursed energy anyway?’ he decided to ask, wanting to know more about cursed energy and how to control it. He could potentially become a sorcerer, but then again, he wanted to be normal.
But then again, sorcerers were a thing, cursed spirits were a thing. Was that normal?
Most likely not. Then why did it exist?
“I can teach you!” The guy practically jumped out of his seat, off the table and sitting up straight. His eyes gleamed with what looked like hope and his face cracked out of the pouting he was doing. He looked eager, like a dog wagging its tail.
‘..Hard pass.’ Kusuo declined, not sure if the guy would actually help or trick him into revealing his powers and leave him high and dry. He couldn’t be too trusting, his mind twisted as it reminded of something but what?
“What- Come on. I’m the perfect guy for it!” he whined, leaning towards Kusuo but the table stopped him from going any further. His glasses drooped down his nose, his eyes, endless varieties of blues along with a few whites looked at Kusuo along with a pouty lip.
‘As if.’ Kusuo rolled his eyes, his desert finally being placed in front of him. He grabbed the spoon and started to dig in, enjoying the sweet flavor of the Purin.
‘Of course, this guy doesn’t believe me, he doesn’t know about the six eyes— Wait, he could read my mind.’ The guy that had crossed his arms and was pouting was now looking at Kusuo with squinted eyes. ‘Do you know about the six eyes?’
Kusuo knew his telepathy could only do so much, it of course has its limitations and what he could do with those limitations. What Kusuo couldn’t do was read people's subconscious and inner thoughts, what they know and what they didn’t know. He couldn’t tell someone's sexuality unless that person explicitly thinks about something that they’re attracted to. He also knows he can’t pull knowledge out of someone or go into their memory for that matter. His telepathy only lets him hear peoples' verbal thoughts as they are thinking them.
It’s a reason why he hasn’t gotten this guy's name yet nor does he know about the ‘six eyes.'
Kusuo hesitates on the question, knowing that what he says would dictate what the guy would think subconsciously and consciously. He already knew Kusuo could read his mind yet didn’t question why Kusuo didn’t know his name, or did he? Did he suspect Kusuo couldn’t subconsciously read his mind? But then why would he question if he knew about six eyes— what are even ‘six eyes’?
Kusuo’s eyebrows furrow in the process and that made the guy straighten up a bit, his eyes glazed and trained onto him as if he were a puzzle. It made Kusuo’s back hair stand up once more and he hated it. He hated it more when the guy smirked as if he knew.
“How about we make a deal?” The white-haired guy rested his elbows on the table, hands placed underneath his chin. He was grinning a bit as if he figured out what Kusuo was thinking about. It only made him tense and ready to leave.
“I teach you how to control your cursed energy and even teach about techniques, in exchange for information about your powers.” There was something underneath his tone which made Kusuo more wary of him than before. He felt a crackle of lightning of some kind surrounding the teenager yet there was no light or any sort of electricity around him.
He felt his finger dig into the spoon he was given, eyes trained on the teenager to see if he was lying. It didn’t help that his thoughts were thinking of something else, jujutsu high and enrolling into it. He must’ve found out to an extent of some kind, that only made Kusuo nervous.
He wanted to learn about cursed energy and how to harness it, along with cursed techniques. He may have said he’ll look into it without his help but that was only half a bluff, he didn’t know sorcerers were rare. Curiosity dug its claws into him, knowing this is a once in a lifetime chance, there's no way he’ll get this chance again.
Yet something in him stirred, an uneasy feeling he felt before. There was a whisper in his mind telling him this wasn’t a good idea; this’ll never be a good idea. He’ll be telling something he’s kept hidden away to a total stranger, like he did with.. with whom? He doesn’t remember.
That doesn’t matter though, what matters is if he’ll take this chance or not.
He won’t give all information of his powers, for one, he doesn’t trust this guy, nor does he know who he is. And two, even if he did, it’ll take way too long, plus he keeps getting new powers every once in a while, he himself can’t keep track of.
Kusuo sighed, placing the spoon down and rubbing his nose bridge with his other hand. He’s already getting a headache over this.
“So?”
‘I’ll only agree if I only give you information about some of my powers, not all of them.’ Kusuo stated, already on edge even if he was giving info on some of his powers. It didn’t just feel right, it felt like it was going to end in disaster like last time.
What did happen last time?
The guy’s mind was blank for a second, his eyes had widened, and his jaw was only slightly opened. Although after two seconds, he quickly contained his composer and was trying but failing to hide a grin taking form on his face.
“So, you’ll tell me about some of them?” He rested the side of his face on his palm, the other hand tapping on the table.
‘Yes, but only if you teach me how to control cursed energy and about techniques.’ Kusuo stared warily at him, knowing the guy could lie and try to manipulate Kusuo. There was something, a feeling, crawling up his back, wanting him to turn away from this deal and never look back yet his curiosity made him sit and stay.
The guy couldn’t contain his grin, Kusuo could even feel him the air under the table swift as the teenager kicked his feet like an excited little boy waiting to get his prize. It only made the crawling feeling grow.
“Alright then! Do we have a deal?” He extended his hand and for a second, it felt like he was putting his life on the line, like if he shook his hand, he was making a deal with the yakuza or devil. Yet there was that lighting feeling again, something sparked underneath the skin of the teenager's hand which made him hesitate.
‘What are you doing?’
“Huh? What do you mean?” He was playing dumb.
‘I could feel you doing something, what are you doing?’ Kusuo pressed, knowing his gut was right about this once. The guy looked at him with a look of surprise before a small smile was placed on his face.
“You have some instincts dude, I'll tell you that, but just so you can at least trust me I'll tell you.”
‘You tried to do something without me knowing, I’m not sure if I can trust you after that.’
“..Touche,” He lowered his hand, “we were about to make a binding vow. Think of it as a promise but more extreme.”
Kusuo raised an eyebrow to this. More extreme?
“When a person makes a binding vow, they have to abide by the rules they are given, usually by them and/or another person. If they break these rules they are punished, although the punishment is unknown due to it varies from person and rule.” He explained, all while having a small smile as if this was joyful to him.
If Kusuo had lied about information about one of his abilities he could be punished? That seems extreme like he said, but then again this also applies to the other guy. If he lies about cursed energy or techniques, he could get punished too.
“You in?” He extended his hand out once more, Kusuo eyeing it before sighing, knowing he’ll regret it one day, but his curiosity has a gun to his head at this point.
‘Fine.’ He agreed, taking the hand and shaking it.
"Gojo Satoru."
‘Saiki Kusuo.’
The sensation was a weird one. There was a weight in his chest, electricity crackled underneath his own skin like chains dragging across from it. It tightened severely onto his heart, making him suppress a shiver that automatically made him feel uneasy.
He was going to regret this, wasn’t he?