To Honor a Contract

That night, I found myself sitting on a large bed all to myself. I pulled at my make-shift pajamas, one of Gojo's spare shirts, and heaved a sigh. The shirt was way too large for me. The top of my head only passed his waist a few inches, so, of course, everything was oversized. The sleeves dangled past my fingers, and the hem of the shirt went past my knees. The man forgot to buy me new clothes, and I forgot to mention that I didn't own anything else except for the one that got ruined in the underground room.

A big yawn escaped me. It was about 3 am in the morning. Gojo had magnanimously given me his room to sleep in for the night while he offered to camp out on the couch. Turned out that the entire situation of he taking care of me was something he thought of on the fly. Not that I was surprised of course.

I stared at my hands, trying to ignore the ever-growing sense of the need for sleep. It was getting even harder now to focus and concentrate. It was just as I thought, most of my reserves were gone, and I've yet to find the person who fulfilled my conditions.

I put on my slippers, also over-sized, and opened the door a sliver. I spotted Gojo spread out on the sofa watching television. Turns out he wasn't asleep either. I pushed open the door and stepped out of the room.

"Rey-kun!" Gojo greeted me enthusiastically. "You're still awake?"

I went over to the sofa, and Gojo scooted over to make some room. I studied the man for a few moments before deciding that it was appropriate to sit down. I pulled up my knees to my chest and sat at the far end of the sofa, as far away as Gojo as possible. I don't trust him.

Gojo glanced at the boy and decided not to comment on the large space between them. The light from the television illuminated both of their faces as the two sat there silently in the dark. The television was playing an anime about giant robots, Gundam, the boy later learned they were called.

It struck me as strange that a grown man would be so interested in a show like this. But then again, the owner of Six Eyes and Limitless never ceased to surprise me.

"Can't fall asleep?" Gojo asked, his eyes still on the show.

I turned my head and looked at the man. "I'm a curse."

Curses didn't need to sleep. They ran on negative energy. Surely, Gojo knew that.

"But you can sleep, no?"

I nodded. I could, technically, "sleep." But I couldn't go to sleep today. If I slept, I knew I would have to face the inevitable, and I couldn't afford to do so.

I felt fingers on my face, and I found Gojo inches away from me. Gojo poked my cheek. "Look at your dark circles. It's clear you need sleep."

I slipped out of Gojo's grip and stared at him. My sleepiness had forced my guard down. I would have never let someone, especially not a sorcerer, get so close to me without my realization. It made me feel vulnerable, and I didn't like that.

"I have an idea!" Gojo exclaimed. "Since we're both not going to sleep, how about we go have some fun?"

I tilted my head, questioning his definition of fun. What is there to do at 3 am in the morning?

"It'll be fun. I promise!" Gojo said. Gojo put his large hands on my shoulders. I made a noise of protest, but the man didn't care. Behind me, I felt Gojo manipulate a large amount of cursed energy, and suddenly our surroundings changed.

A classroom? Why a classroom? I know Gojo is a teacher, but who teaches class after midnight?

"Here!" Gojo shoved a large object in my hands. I looked down and frowned. I threw Gojo a confused stare.

"It's a talisman cage used to capture small time curses," Gojo explained. "Open it, but don't let them fly away."

Gojo watched the boy open the cage as he made himself comfortable perched upon a desk. The boy caught the Fly Heads by their tail, and Gojo was suddenly reminded of an image of a child clutching onto the string of two balloons in the wind. Coupled with the over-sized t-shirt and the innocence on his face, Gojo found the boy adorable. It was hard to believe that a curse could be this cute.

After apprehending the two curses, I turned to Gojo and waited for his explanation.

"Megumi told me that you forced the special grade curse to kneel just by ordering it to," Gojo stated. "Can you show me how you did it?"

I glanced at the two Fly Heads and back at Gojo, skepticism all over my face.

"I know, I know, those aren't the same thing as a special grade," Gojo acknowledged, "but there aren't that many special grades just walking around for us to test on."

I nodded in agreement and pulled the Fly Heads down to eye level. For such low level curses, there was no need to reveal my aura. A simple stare will be enough.

Gojo eyed Rey carefully, wanting to catch the fluctuations of cursed energy as the boy demonstrated. However, there was no change in the cursed energy, but rather he felt the temperature drop a degree. A barely-perceivable hint of pressure enveloped the boy. The Fly Heads dropped to the ground, their bodies visibly shaking from fear. They didn't dare move, their wings tucked close to their bodies, trying to appear as small as possible.

Gojo applauded my performance enthusiastically. "Wow, that's really eye-opening. You didn't even have to use your cursed energy."

He picked up one of the Fly Heads and held it out to me. "You shouldn't have any worries about exorcising one then, right?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him before crushing the two curses flat with a sliver of my cursed energy. "No. I feel no kinship towards curses." Well, no, that isn't entirely true. There is one single exception.

Gojo nodded his head in approval. "That's good. So you don't have any reservations killing your own kind."

Gojo saw Rey narrow his eyes at his statement, so he flashed the boy a smile. Was he going to rebut his statement? But instead, Rey simply nodded and sat down in a chair across from him. Gojo took that as a confirmation for his assumption. That would make his job a lot easier.

I fiddled with the shirt's sleeve as I waited for Gojo to tell me why he brought me here. I could sense that there were the presences of other curses in the school, though they all been scared away by Gojo's aura. But then again, I didn't think Gojo brought me here to exorcise low level curses.

"Do you know why I brought you here?" Gojo asked suddenly. I shook my head.

"This school is where I exorcised a curse for the first time," Gojo said. "This was the first time when I realized the extent of the power I wielded."

Gojo put down his leg and sat properly. The man's manner grew serious. "Since I was a child, I've always been told this. My very birth titled the balance of the world; my existence changed everything. So it was only natural that the old heads would want to strike fear into my heart."

"My eyes were always extremely sensitive. When I was a child, I hated the light, and my headaches got so bad if I stayed outside for long periods of time," he continued. "It wasn't only when I felt the pull of the Limitless. It felt like holding the world in my hands, its heartbeat pulsing under my skin, traveling through my nerves and seeing it for all it truly was. Do you know what that feeling is like?"

I waited for the man to continue. Gojo closed his eyes as he was reminiscing the feeling.

"As I grew up, I always tried to understand my powers although I had always been reckless. But nothing had been able to stop me from growing stronger." Gojo held out his hand and closed it. "So can you imagine my surprise when a curse with had the ability to end the power I hold shows up one day right under my nose?"

Did he bring me here to kill me?

"I am the strongest sorcerer alive, and I should not allow such an existence like you to exist. The Elders threw upon me this burden, this responsibility to exorcise all the curses because I should follow in the footsteps of the founder," Gojo hissed.

"But why? Why should I take down the Heavens?" Gojo asked. "For what? For who? For my clan?"

I chose to say nothing.

"So in order to destroy that system, I pledged to become stronger. I want to grow strong enough so that I don't need to even fear the Heavens."

This curse was his answer, but to what question, Gojo did not know yet. All he knew was that he has to take this boy and put him in his chess board, the gem of a chess piece amongst the wooden ones.

"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked. "What do you want from me?"

"You know, I didn't bring you in because I pitied you." Gojo looked at me solemnly. "Frankly, it would have saved me a lot of trouble if I just left you in that room. But I didn't. And it was for selfish means. Your appearance is something that I've been waiting for for a very long time. But before I can tell you why, I need to to be able to trust you. And I believe that trust goes both ways, so I need you to trust me too. That is why I'm telling you all this."

Trust. What a powerful word. One that I don't think many deserved. The most fragile thing in the world is trust. It takes years to build and just a matter of seconds to lose. And it's hard to trust when all you've seen from the past is evidence why you shouldn't.

"I am a curse. You are a sorcerer. There is no trust between us. If you want something that is close enough to trust," I quoted the word, "then use the Binding Vow."

Gojo studied me for a while before deciding I wasn't going to budge. He let out a sigh and laughed. "You're a tough nut to crack. I'll give you that. It's true that I can use a Binding Vow to maintain a hold over you, and originally I had planned on using it. But you've surprised me again and again. My intuition tells me that a Binding Vow isn't enough to get what I want from you."

I'm beginning to see why he is hailed as the strongest sorcerer. There's something different about him that puts him on the top.

"You see, Binding Vows can be broken. And when someone is pushed past their limits and broken, they are willing to abandon everything, even the very things they vowed to protect, much less a something that is binding them down. What I need is someone strong enough that even if they are pushed to their limit, they won't break. I need someone like that in order to achieve my goal."

"Your goal?" I asked. "What kind of world do you desire?"

"You will have to show me that you're strong enough for me to answer you," Gojo replied, a small smile resting on his lips.

I returned his smile with a tired sigh. "Sorcerer, be careful of what you say. You may know my name, but you don't know my story. What makes you think that you can be the judge of whether or not I will break at my limit?"

"With the fact that I know you are much more than just a curse," Gojo answered. "With the fact that I see a part of myself inside of you."

A small chuckle escaped me. "So you already had an answer."

Gojo gave a small nod. "I made my decision the first night we met. I will let you know that once I set my eyes on something, I won't give up until I get it."

"I can tell." I leaned forward a bit. "So what is it you want from me?"

"What is your opinion on the higher-ups?" Gojo asked.

"Corrupt," I answered simply. It was the best word to describe them. It encompassed and explained every single one of their actions.

Gojo nodded in agreement. "Some time ago, I was faced with a problem. Killing the higher-ups won't remove the corruption in the system. People will just replace them, and the cycle continues. I want to raise a generation to break that cycle. I believe that this is the most possible efficient way to clean up the mess the leaders made. This is why I chose to become a teacher at Jujutsu High."

"So why do you need me?"

Gojo squatted down in front of me and moved his hand over his blindfold. Slowly, he pulled down the piece of cloth over his eyes. His brilliant blue eyes bored into my soul as he gave me his answer.

"You, Rey, will help me achieve this goal. You will do anything to protect my students, and you alone have the power to do so. There will be times when I will use you as a tool to achieve my means, and I will not apologize for doing so. You may come to hate me for my actions, but I will tell you that I do not care. Everything I do is to achieve the world I desire. I believe that the end result will be worth my efforts, and if you want to see such a world, then you will do everything in your power to help me."

"And if I don't?" I whispered.

Gojo's stunning blue eyes turned hard. "Then, I will use everything in my power to remove you from my path. Nothing will stop me from achieving that goal."

A long pause followed as the Gojo held my gaze. We both knew what he said was true, and he would follow through with it. Gojo Satoru, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer in the world. Strongest not because of the cursed techniques he held. Strongest because of his calmness and superiority as he inspected the world below him. Strongest because he was Gojo Satoru. What a terrifying man. And I respected him for it. This was the kind of person that should be on top of the jujutsu world.

Gojo gave me his signature smile. "So what do you say, little curse?"

He wasn't lying. None of his words were a lie. Hell, my hunch was right. The strongest jujutsu sorcerer alive is a lunatic.But he's not the only one. Something stirred within me. It's him.

Gojo watched as the boy slipped off the chair and stood in front of him. "I respect your goal, sorcerer. It's worthy enough for someone like you. But, there is a saying in this world. Be careful of the cursed ones because they are the ones with nothing else to lose. You should always be careful of who you choose to trust."

Gojo found Rey watching him with an unfathomable gaze. "Is this a threat?"

Rey shook his head. "Simply a warning. After all, it will take more than a few bold aspirations to gain my trust. If you so choose, our relationship can start as a partnership."

"Contracts cannot be used to define friendship, nor measure sentiment, but I do believe it can be the beginning of something greater. Perhaps, there will be a day as you say when we are no longer bound by our contract. But before then, we can settle with one." Rey stuck out his small hand and looked at Gojo.

Gojo contemplated the boy's offer for a long moment and then took the hand in his own. "You strike a hard bargain, little curse, but what you've showed me is just too good to pass up. It's a deal."

For the first time, Rey's lips curled upwards, the closest semblance to a smile, at his action. "Whenever you're ready, jujutsu sorcerer."

Even though Gojo had never spoken them before, the words he needed to say appeared in his mind, "You will be under my command. My fate will be your beginning and end. Heed my call if you belong to my name and desire."

Gojo's blue eyes peered into the depth of Rey's crimson ones, and suddenly, Gojo was drawn into a sea of darkness. Infinite pairs of eyes stared back at him as Rey's voice sounded out from the abyss.

"By my Authority, I hereby vow your desire shall be my life and death. Gojo Satoru, may you use my power to transcend creation and chaos and forge your new world."

—-

"Want some?" Gojo's voice sounded from my left. Turning my head a full 180 degrees, I made out the object in Gojo's hand. The milk and honey mix ice cream he had bought from a convenience store while he was purchasing my bottle of milk.

"Want a bite?" Gojo offered the dessert to me again. I shook my head. I wasn't in the mood.

Gojo shrugged and continued to eat his ice cream cone. I turned my attention in front of me. We've arrived. Back to the place where it all started. I walked past the barbed fences, clutching the bottle of milk in both of my hands.

Stopping in front of a cluster of inconspicuous bushes, I parted the leaves and took out a small tin bowl. I carried the bowl carefully, holding as if it was made of fragile glass. This was the bowl I used to feed Kira. And this was the only thing I had left about her.

I slipped through underneath the slide and found her hiding spot. With utmost care, I put down the bowl onto the ground and opened the bottle. I watched as the milk filled the bottom of the bowl until the metal shine was completely hidden by the white liquid.

Around this time, Kira would have been by my side, lapping up the milk with her usual earnest. I remembered telling her to slow down that no one would take the milk away from her. Sometimes, Kira would be extra hungry and finish more than half of the bottle herself, but most of time, it was just half. The rest I would finish for her, and she would make sure I didn't waste a single drop.

I brought the bottle to my lips and drank slowly, relishing every drop of the liquid running down my throat. Don't worry, Kira, I made sure to get every single last drop. I capped the bottle and put it down next to me. The milk in the bowl was still there. Filled to the brim.

Thank you, Kira, for being my anchor in this world for the past weeks. Your presence made it possible for me to find the one I was looking for. I will not forget your sacrifice. I drew a slow breath. Go easily, Kira. I will be there, waiting for you in your new home. Our contract will not be forgotten. You will not be forgotten.

"Goodbye, Kira."

Gojo watched as the boy stand up and walk toward him, his head downcast and steps heavy. He wasn't one to allow his students wallow in their loss, he much rather lead them to hold up their heads again. And even though Rey wasn't his student, he felt obligated to help him. No matter how old the curse in front of him may be, Gojo nevertheless believed that Rey was a child who had seen too much, gone through too much, and weighed down by too much.

Gojo put a hand on the boy's head, and the mismatched pair of red eyes found his face. "I'm sorry for your loss. Is that all you want to do?"

It was interesting to see how my new Master reacted. I could feel genuine concern coming from the man, and I was glad to know that he cared for me. But he didn't know that there was nothing for him to worry about. Death was a natural, almost familiar thing to me. One part of my story had ended, and now a new one was beginning. The contract must be honored, no matter what.

I shook my head and headed for the exit silently. I didn't wait to see if Gojo followed.

"Hey, little curse."

Gojo was still standing where he was. I turned and looked up at the man.

"I know you're not much of a talker. That's fine. Kids your age can by shy." His gaze bored into mine. There was no joking flair in his words. "But you need to know this. Kira isn't coming back. There's nothing you or I can do about it. Do you understand?"

The boy nodded solemnly. "I know."

"All sparks kindle new flames, Rey. It's up to you what kind of flames Kira sees on the other side."

"Mm." I studied at the blindfolded man as we walked out of the park. Ever since forming the contract with Gojo, there was something familiar about him. I couldn't place my finger on it, but there was something so bright about this man. And yet, there was also a dark burden he carried alone. But his smile was always there.

I wondered what kind of flames he was protecting, what kind of flames he wanted that person to see. Well no matter, I made a contract with this man, so whatever flames he wanted to protect would be my duty to do the same.

"I'm tired," I muttered. I rubbed my eyes and blinked the exhaustion away. "Let's go back."

Gojo hummed in agreement. He pulled out his hand from his pants pocket and offered it to me. I looked up at him, and, after a brief moment of hesitation, I slipped my small cold hand into his large warm one. Gojo teleported us back to his room. I found my way to the bedroom and stopped at the door.

I glanced at the clock. Well, it wasn't exactly night time anymore, but it's fine. I turned to rest my gaze on the man who had slouched back onto the sofa. "Good night, Gojo-sama."

Gojo looked at me with an unreadable expression before his face broke into a smile. "Good night, Rey-kun!"