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Archer, the Sorcerer Chapter 2
🕑 Added 2024-07-23 18:53:30 +0000 UTCChapter 2: Happy Now?
Had he seen anything he thought to be incomprehensible?
The power of the Six Eyes was said to be akin to all-seeing. Every Cursed Energy could be seen, whether it being the output, the manipulation, or even the utilization.
But, for the first time in his life, Satoru Gojo saw something he thought to be incomprehensible.
That something was his little brother, Shirou Gojo, having low-level Cursed Energy, yet was able to exorcise literal dozens of Cursed Spirits.
He saw numerous Grade 2 and Grade 3 corpses, and the last, but not definitely least, was the state of the Grade 1- no, looking at the corpse, with the Six Eyes able to discern the leftovers of its Cursed Energy, it’d been a slight stronger than Grade 1.
‘What the fuck did you do to them, Shirou?’ Satoru thought while still trying to connect the dots.
“Gojo!! Assemble!!!”
After seeing some sort of miracle that his brother had conjured up, Satoru called upon all members of the Gojo family to the basement of their estate, making them witness this predicament, especially the death of his father, the head of the Gojo family.
But, even then, all Satoru could focus on was the state of his five-year-old brother, unconscious in his arms.
Satoru walked out of the ‘dungeon’ while carrying Shirou’s unconscious body, holding him in a careful carry.
Only less than a minute, family members in the estate gathered. More than two dozen of them flocking around the basement in rather distress after hearing Satoru’s calling.
“Satoru, what’s… is that Master– “ one of Satoru’s relatives reacted with shocked, the image being Satoru carrying his brother’s body and the shock came after seeing his father’s lifeless and face-bloodied corpse.
“Pops died from choking on his own blood, we all know why he can be like this, right?” Satoru said, indicating his father’s previous abusive and close relationship with alcoholism, making some in disbelief, but the rest instantly nodded at what he was implying.
“I need most of you to prepare for his funeral, some to contact Tokyo Jujutsu High and tell them to send Shoko Ieiri and Suguru Geto here urgently, and those who can apply first-aid, follow me.”
After telling his orders, Satoru walked toward the basement exit while carrying his brother’s unconscious body. The rest could only stand still due to their shock at the sudden change of air.
They still couldn’t process their predicament. The head of the family, dead. The second heir of the family, bloodied, tattered, and unconscious while being carried by the first heir.
“The Cursed Spirits are all gone!! They’re exorcised!!” one of the members shouted, solely checking what was inside the ‘dungeon’. Instantly, their heads turned toward the shout with their thoughts going even more haywire.
“All of you…” suddenly, to the ones hearing those words, the air in the basement became rather cold, instantly looking at the one who was speaking, Satoru Gojo himself.
“The current head of this family is giving you orders, best to do them immediately.” Satoru coldly stated while looking at them, lacing his words with an intimidating manner.
No one contested what Satoru had said, some were gulping by the radiating aura that Satoru exuded, some were slightly dumbfounded, and the rest immediately nodded.
Satoru walked up the staircase while holding his little brother, exiting the basement with some following him.
His walk was accompanied with silence, losing himself in his train of thoughts. Looking at what he situated in, those following him mistook it for grieving… in actuality, he was still thinking about his little brother’s predicament.
Satoru ended the walk when he arrived at the entrance of his room. He entered and placed his little brother in the bed and those who followed him immediately applied first-aid for his younger sibling.
There were many injuries littering him, his tattered blue kimono was smeared with blood, calluses forming around his five-year-old hands as if he’d been holding something larger and far stronger than them and Satoru could even feel some of the bones were broken.
As they were finishing their first-aid apply, wrapping bandages and cleaning the wounds, Satoru sat down, grabbing a chair beside the bed that his little brother laid on.
“It’s done, but his injuries are still severe…” one of them said to Satoru in a monotone voice.
“You’ve done your job, now I got it from here,” Satoru replied while still sitting, leaning down the chair he sat on. “When the ones from Jujutsu High arrive, send them to this room immediately. I’ll be waiting here for their arrival.”
Satoru then dismissed them from the room, they slightly bowed to him before exiting without any significant reaction whatsoever.
He was then only accompanied by the silence of the room, leaving him with only his thoughts and Shirou’s unconscious state laying down on the bed.
What did his little brother do to exorcise those Cursed Spirits?
What were those foreign energies that his Six Eyes showed him?
Why… was he in that state in the first place?
Questions after questions ran amok inside Satoru’s head, his eyes just kept looking at his brother. All of his thoughts lead to only one.
“Promise me that you’ll look after him… as a big brother should.”
A promise that Satoru made to his mother on her deathbed, something that always lingered every time he was looking at his brother’s sorry state.
“You didn’t leave me with a promise to hold on to, no– you left me with a curse.” Satoru stated to no one but the silence in the room.
Satoru then figured out the answer on why his brother became like this; he unconsciously knew already after seeing his father’s corpse to begin with.
It was an act of hatred, of malice, toward Shirou, by his own father.
But, even then, Satoru didn’t know how to react to it. His father had already passed away, due to his own accord, so he couldn’t reprimand him or anything of the sort, and all that was left, was this…
Unbeknownst to Satoru, almost one hour had passed since his first train of thought.
A knock then came from the door and Satoru told the one knocking to open it. When the door was opened, he was greeted with a female servant… and two of his friends behind her.
“Master Satoru, the ones from– “
“Satoru!!” Shoko and Suguru said in tandem while also interrupted anyone from speaking, instantly heading inside the room while the female servant reacted with annoyance, clearly showing it with a vein appearing on her head.
“Yo, guys! Took you long enough.” Satoru greeted them lightheartedly while raising an arm. Shoko and Suguru looked to see what was inside the room…
Satoru was sitting in a chair beside the bed, and the bed itself was occupied by a five-year-old boy with white hair being bandaged up from head to toe.
“Satoru, we heard about… your father– our condolences,” Suguru said with care toward his best friend.
“It was a shocking news to hear when we got here, your – servant? Is it? – told us before meeting you,” Shoko said while pointing at the female servant, indicating she was the one who told them.
When Shoko and Suguru heard from their teacher, Masamichi Yaga, that they were requested by the Gojo family for an urgent matter, they thought it was simply some sort of prank made by Satoru.
It was definitely shocking to hear that Satoru Gojo’s father passed away, and the rush from the family members of the Gojo family certainly confirmed it for them.
“Thanks, but that’s not why I called you here for…” Satoru stood up from his chair while walking towards them. He then made his female servant leave the room simply with a hand sign, signifying he didn’t want to be disturbed.
“So, who’s the little guy that is bandaged up?” she asked. Suguru, who was beside her, was also showing curiosity towards said child.
“This little guy here, who’s bandaged up, is my kid brother, Shirou!” he introduced his younger sibling to them in an exciting manner. “He could say ‘Hi’ right now, if he weren’t unconscious – so, this is where you come in, Shoko… heal him, would you?”
Shoko Ieiri was one of the most indispensable members in Tokyo Jujutsu High. Even though she wasn’t a Special Grade Sorcerer such as Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, she was regarded highly for one thing, and one thing only – her prowess and expertise in utilizing Reverse Cursed Technique.
Reverse Cursed Technique was a special type of Cursed Technique that took Cursed Energy and reversed it into positive energy, a very complex technique and mainly used to heal human bodies.
For Tokyo Jujutsu High – no, the world of Jujutsu itself, Shoko, even as a 2nd year student and a teenager, was regarded highly as a healer.
“What happened, Satoru? Did you do this to him or something?” Shoko asked while closely inspecting the injured child, looking at how severe the injuries were.
“Hey! When I got here, he was already like this!” Satoru defended his innocence. “Don’t keep blaming me when anything bad happens! Do I look like some thug who would beat up a kid, especially his kid brother, huh?!”
“You definitely sound like one…” Suguru defied Satoru’s defense of innocence, clearly looking dumbfounded as well.
“Hey, not helping!” Satoru said to his best friend who was making him looking more as a bad guy. “Look, this is why I called you guys for, okay? So, just do it, will you?”
It was rather weird for Shoko and Suguru to hear their overly maniacal and prideful friend, for once, was kind of begging.
“I’m not hearing the magic word~” Shoko instantly took hold of the chance to make Satoru beg more.
Suguru, who was taking the matter more seriously after looking at the state of Satoru’s brother, had enough of their playful banter.
“Shoko, that’s enough. You need to—”
“Please, I’m asking you, Shoko… just this once.”
When Satoru said those words, it was like the air in the room had a sudden change of temperature. Shoko had her jaw almost fell to the floor, so did Suguru.
Never, in their time spent together, had they heard Satoru Gojo, the ultimate narcissist and the epitome of pridefulness, beg.
It was like a rare comet appearing in the sky, a once-in-a-lifetime moment they never thought they could see.
No more was the playful aura being exuded, everyone in the room was in a state of focus and seriousness.
“Fine, you don’t have to be that serious,” Shoko said, her jaw was opened, no longer. “Just leave me here to do my thing. You both can wait outside.”
“Okie! Thanks, Shoko! Suguru and I are gonna be in another room playing Halo! Just text me when you’re done, alright?”
And then, Satoru was back… just like his usual manner. All seriousness was then gone, others beside him could only be dumbfounded after hearing what came out of Satoru’s mouth.
‘Talk about being ‘Two-Face’, Satoru,’ Suguru thought while slightly sweatdropped.
“Tch– whatever…” Shoko replied nonchalantly while Satoru took Suguru outside of the room, leaving his little brother in the care of Shoko.
Satoru and Suguru left the room and closed the door, nonchalantly walking away from it and getting further and further.
In their walk, Satoru was leading Suguru – yet, heading nowhere whatsoever.
“So, you’re ready playing the Campaign, together?” Satoru broke off the silence, alluding Suguru about playing the video game with him.
“Are you sure it’s the right time to play around right now? Your father just passed away, and your brother is heavily injured – speaking of, why is he like that in the first place?”
After Suguru said those words, Satoru instantly stopped walking in front of him, pausing their momentum of walk. It was rather abrupt, changing the air in a more serious manner.
“Remember when I said Shirou was ‘nothing special’?” Satoru asked his best friend behind him without looking back.
“I remember, and judging from the Cursed Energy I felt around him, he only has Low Cursed Energy.” Suguru surmised his thoughts to Satoru on his little brother’s potential. “My assumption is that he hasn’t awakened any Cursed Technique as well, has he?”
Satoru then turned around to look at Suguru face-to-face, removing his sunglasses in the process.
“The moment Shirou showed that meager Cursed Energy level, our dear-old dad instantly despised him… what you saw back there is the result of his really ‘tough love’ – well, in a drunken outrage too, I guess,” Satoru explained to him the reason behind Shirou’s state.
Suguru, having experienced how tough and unforgiving the world of Sorcerers were, instantly understood – especially after hearing the infamous stories on how the Big Three Families punished their members with low potential to be Sorcerers.
“My guess is that he threw Shirou to the room in the basement, or the ‘dungeon’ as I like to call it, where the Gojo family kept Cursed Spirits there for training, and other things…” Satoru continued his explanation on the matter, his best friend listening thoughtfully.
“What happened to your father, then?” Suguru asked.
“Oh, he died from choking on his own blood. I presume after he threw Shirou under the bus and locked him from the outside to be eaten alive,” Satoru answered nonchalantly, leaving Suguru slightly dumbfounded. “Pops always loved his liquor, to the point it ruined his insides. Hah! Talk about a unique death for a Sorcerer, don’t you think?”
It was a weird sight for Suguru to behold, his best friend talking about his father’s death so nonchalantly. But he surmised it as a way for Satoru to grief… probably.
“Again, my condolences…” Suguru responded to Satoru’s nonchalant words, appearing a sweatdrop on his head.
“Aww, don’t mention it, buddy!” Satoru responded with a grin on his face, and Suguru could only sigh after hearing it. “Look on the bright side, I’m the family head now!”
“Sure…” Suguru lazily affirmed his best friend’s words. But then, he remembered about Satoru’s little brother, especially his injured and unconscious state.
They were still standing in the middle of the hallway of the great estate that was the Gojo’s family compound, no one in sight except for the two teenagers wearing the same uniform and leaning on the walls, and Suguru was about to ask to Satoru in particular.
“I assume you arrived here just in time to see your father’s lifeless state and saved your little brother in the process,” Suguru stated his guess.
“You’re right on the first part…” Satoru confirmed Suguru’s guess, well – one of them. His posture was no longer leaning against the wall, standing straighter while looking at the ceiling.
“I didn’t save Shirou, he saved himself – by killing all the Cursed Spirits inside that room before I arrived.”
It was a shock for Suguru to hear, considering the information he’d received about how ungifted Satoru’s little brother was.
“It was a rather splendor sight, y’know. A kid, standing in the center of corpses surrounding him, literal mounts of corpses,” Satoru further explained the specific moment, a smile also appeared on his face. “Dozens of Grade 3s, a dozen of Grade 2s, and hell… one that was a bit stronger that Grade 1.”
“Has he awakened his Innate Technique then?” Suguru immediately asked. “Considering the amount that he exorcised, it might be something special or powerful… but then—”
Suguru instantly realized that he’d felt Shirou’s Cursed Energy level, more specifically, how low it was. His thoughts were running into overdrive, especially about how powerful would the Cursed Technique have to be, yet being powered by such meager energy.
“Finally, you catch on. Shirou’s Cursed Energy is still the same, low level, and he doesn’t have the Six Eyes or something to be able to pull off such a feat,” Satoru said to his pondering best friend, looking straight at him in the process.
“That’s why I called you here for instead of just Shoko – to talk about… uhh, what do they call it again? Angelic Lock?”
“Heavenly Restriction.”
After Suguru said those words, Satoru instantly confirmed with a snap from his fingers.
Heavenly Restriction was a type of Cursed Restriction that affected a Sorcerer's Cursed Energy in exchange for limitations or improvements on their body. This restriction usually referred to limitations on the human body that the person received improved capabilities in a different capacity in exchange.
“Heavenly Restriction can cause him to be born with low Cursed Energy yet be physically gifted. So, are you alluding that your brother, Shirou, has it?” Suguru asked.
“Yeah, well, more like a maybe…” Satoru replied while being a bit confused with his guess as well. “Or, maybe not?”
‘Being physically gifted doesn’t quite fit, and there’s that foreign energy as well…’ Satoru thought about what he’d seen back then in the ‘dungeon’, motes of light, no– foreign energy disappearing.
It was similar yet different than Cursed Energy, he even thought that it was positive energy, but it still didn’t quite fit. The more Satoru processed his thoughts on the matter, he could only conclude it as – neutral energy?
‘Can that neutral energy even exorcise Cursed Spirits? Well, maybe in theory, considering both Cursed Energy and Positive Energy can do it. Neutral is positive and negative, combined, right? Or not?’
Satoru was wriggling his brain, clearly becoming more confused on the matter with the showing of veins appearing on his head.
‘Does that mean he has a Cursed Technique now? Why does my gut tell me it’s not quite right either?’
“Arrrghhhhhh!!!!” out of nowhere, Satoru screamed while holding his head as if it were hurting, shocking Suguru in the process and deafening his ear. “I just don’t get it!!!”
His scream was echoing throughout the estate, shocking everyone who heard it, including his family members and servants, even though they weren’t near Satoru.
“Don’t scream like that, idiot!” Suguru stated his displeasure on Satoru’s sudden outburst, holding his ear with his hands.
“Just because I don’t get it, doesn’t make me an idiot, idiot!” Satoru fought back, more veins appearing on his head in the process.
Satoru then leaned against the wall again, dropping his body down to the floor.
“This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder, huh…” Satoru softly said while putting back his sunglasses on.
Suguru, who watched his best friend’s form, immediately empathized with Satoru’s situations. His father just died in a sudden moment, and his kid brother was heavily injured and awakened something to save himself – and Satoru couldn’t do anything it.
Immediately, Suguru thought about cheering up his best friend, or at least, taking his mind off things that he thought were weighing Satoru’s mind.
“So, you still up for Halo?” Suguru asked about playing the video game Satoru said a few moments ago.
“Huh? Didn’t you say this wasn’t a good time?” Satoru said to Suguru, being slightly dumbfounded by what Suguru was asking.
“Now that I think about it, anytime is good. Come on, what do you say?” Suguru persuaded Satoru while giving him a hand so that his best friend could get up.
“Heh, sure, why the hell not?” Satoru then took Suguru’s hand, lifting him up from the ground in the process.
It had been about almost half an hour since Satoru and Suguru went outside.
After getting up, Satoru let his thoughts drifted off from his mind, letting them be dismissed for another time. But then, all of a sudden…
Satoru’s phone rang a sound, not sounding like someone was calling him, but like a notification receiving a text message. He immediately took out his phone and saw from who the message was…
From; Shoko Ieiri
“I’m done healing him, and he’s now awake.”
Well, Satoru’s plan of playing Halo with Suguru needed to be cancelled due to his little brother being awake, a rather surprising occurrence considering those that Shoko healed usually wouldn’t be awake for more than a while.
His phone rang again, another text message was received from Shoko.
“Also, wanna ask… who’s Rin, btw?”
*****
Some would say that dreams were messages from the deep, or from the mind, or even from someone.
That was where he was, dreaming. What was he dreaming, exactly?
The end of a journey for Archer of the 5th Holy Grail War.
His last moments as a Heroic Spirit, looking at that sunrise after he’d fought a War as a Servant for one particular, twin-tailed teenage girl of a Master.
Rin Tohsaka.
How great of a relieve he was feeling due to being able to remember that name. Being a Counter Guardian all throughout his afterlife corroded his mind, spending many countless years, no—decades, perhaps even more.
‘Rin…’
He talked to her how his journey had ended, that he no longer had any goal whatsoever. A fitting end for him, even though he never thought of an ending like this.
And even then, after all the trouble that she had gone through because of him…
All that sarcasm, all that pain, all that betrayal…
She still wished to save him.
‘You already have, Rin,’ he thought while dreaming this specific memory
He already made peace with his decision, turning his jaded view of his ideals into a more hopeful, yet realistic one.
He then told his former Master what he wished for her to do.
He told her to look after Shirou Emiya, so that he wouldn’t become Counter Guardian Emiya, and he knew, just by being with her to look after him, to give him a shoulder to cry on, that it wouldn’t happen.
“I’ll try my hardest to make sure he doesn’t end up a twisted jerk like you and learn to like himself more!”
Her words truly struck deep within him, making him remember all those things about his sweet and sour experiences with her before becoming a Heroic Spirit. Something that he’d thought he wouldn’t ever recollect.
‘I’m glad for all the things that we went through, Rin.’
She made him smile… and then told him that he must do the same thing, learning to like himself more.
“Don’t worry, Tohsaka. I’ll try my best from now on too.”
It was a promise he made as Heroic Spirit Emiya, to like himself more as Shirou Emiya. He knew the road ahead would be tough, and he would try his hardest to reject himself, but because of this journey…
He knew he wasn’t wrong.
After the exchange of words, he knew this would be the last moment of his dream, considering the memory was finished… but instead, it kept playing on.
After saying those words, he didn’t vanish and his former Master was still in front of him, smiling.
“You have a second chance now… are you truly trying your best?”
After she said those words, it threw him out of the loop. He then remembered his newfound life, not the life of Shirou Emiya, or the life of Heroic Spirit/Counter Guardian Emiya…
But as Shirou Gojo.
After that, he woke up from his slumber.
His first vision was that of a ceiling, his first feeling was someone removing bandages that’d been wrapped around him, and then he remembered why he was in this state in the first place.
“Oh, you’re awake. That’s pretty rare...” someone said to him nonchalantly. A woman with short hair and smelling slightly like tobacco appeared in his sight, holding his bandages and looking a bit aloof.
“Who… are you?” he asked her softly due to just being woken up from unconscious state, trying to get up from laying down on the bed in the process. “Why… am I here?”
“Shoko Ieiri, I’m your brother’s classmate. He called me here to fix you up,” she replied in a relaxed while throwing away the bandages. “As to why you’re here… I guess Satoru found you after you—actually, I don’t even know what happened to you.”
He confirmed that he was still inside the family compound, probably in Satoru’s room, and also confirming that Satoru was home, probably the one who found him inside the room of the basement and placed him here.
He then took a look at his body, and was surprised by it.
He had no injuries whatsoever, which was rather shocking to him because, after overusing his Magic Circuits, he was expecting to see a lot of muscle tear, or atrophy, or even necrosis.
When he fought those Cursed Spirits, especially the strongest one there, he was fighting with everything on the line, even though knowing that his five-year-old body wasn’t strong enough to activate his Magic Circuits to that degree.
‘I traced Noble Phantasms, Kanshou and Bakuya, with this small body, and used Reinforcement as well,’ he thought while holding up his arm, looking at it with no injuries whatsoever except for some small scarrings. ‘I should’ve lost the mobility of my limbs by now…’
After his train of thought, he then instinctively knew why he had no injuries whatsoever.
“You healed me,” he said to Shoko, still rather softly. “Didn’t you?”
“That’s right, lil’ Gojo,” she confirmed what Shirou said, still being nonchalant to him. “I’m a master when it comes to using Reverse Cursed Technique, which can heal wounds and injuries with Positive Energy.”
It was a new information for his to consume, Reverse Cursed Technique, a healing technique which healed all his injuries, which he discerned to be very advanced, considering his state before.
‘Impressive, I should’ve been a cripple by now and I remember breaking more than a few of my bones as well,’ he discerned inwardly, analyzing how high of a level the healing was.
“Thank you,” he expressed his gratitude, sincerely.
“Don’t mention it, Shirou,” Shoko replied with a small smile on her face. “Your brother, as much of an idiot he is, will be thrilled to see you’re awake now. I should text him.”
Shoko took out her phone and started texting, indicating that she was informing Satoru about his predicament.
“By the way~, you mentioned the name ‘Rin’ a lot while you were unconscious…” Shoko nonchalantly said while still texting, not looking at him in the process.
The moment she said the name, he slightly widened his eyes, remembering the dream he had before waking up.
‘Well, that’s rather embarrassing…’ he thought inwardly, hoping that he didn’t say anything much more in detail.
“Is this ‘Rin’ your girlfriend by any chance~?” Shoko teased him in a playful tone, hoping to get a reaction out from the five-year-old boy in front of her. “Aren’t you too young to be dating, Shirou~?”
He only sighed at what the teenage girl in front of him was insinuating, which only made him want to fire back at her. He didn’t like to be teased, after all.
“Why is it any of your concern? Is it because you’re not too young, but don’t have anyone to date?” he said so in such a monotone voice, looking away from Shoko in the process.
After those words came out, Shoko stopped her texting and looked straight at him, a vein appearing on her forehead as well.
“Wow, now I see the resemblance…” Shoko stated while looking at him with furrowed brows, lacing her words with slight annoyance and a bit of malice. “You can be as annoying and bratty as Satoru, huh? Is that why you were bloodied to a pulp?”
“No, my father threw me into a room filled with Cursed Spirits and locked me from the outside,” he replied to her with no lighthearted manner whatsoever, indicating that he was telling no joke. “That’s why I was bloodied to a pulp.”
For Shoko to hear that, it was akin to a pin being dropped. Silencing any kind of lighthearted manner whatsoever. She had never expected that Shirou Gojo’s state was because of a very fucked-up form of parental abuse.
It was more shocking to learn that knowing the fact that the father had just been declared as ‘deceased’.
“If you’re here, does that mean Satoru is here as well?” the young boy asked as he slowly sat up, feeling the aching in his bones and muscles. His line of questioning eased up the atmosphere of the room. “Where is Satoru?”
“Your brother is outside with his friend,” Shoko replied, giving him a slight smile. “He’s been worried sick about you, y’know...”
He looked down, his memories of the past events starting to flood back. His father’s anger, the coldness of the dungeon, and the fear of being attacked by so many Cursed Spirits. Yet, he had survived.
“What about father?” Shirou asked, a bit of contempt was in his voice. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand, only to stumble as his legs gave way.
“Whoa, take it easy!” Shoko said, catching him before he fell. “You’re still recovering. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I thought I was already fine,” he insisted, though he allowed Shoko to help him back onto the bed.
“Damn boys. Always tried to act tough even though they almost died.” Shoko said, holding up her hands in a placating gesture. “But just give it a minute. Let me finish checking your injuries. And as for your father-- ”
As she was talking about the state of his ‘father’, he saw Satoru and Suguru bursting through the door with no little delicacy whatsoever, even though they were still deep in conversation. When they saw him, Satoru’s face lit up.
“Hey, little snot! You’re awake!” Satoru said, striding over and ruffling the young 5-year-old’s hair. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” he admitted, looking up at his older brother.
Satoru’s expression turned more and more erratic. “What the hell happened in the dungeon?! You awakened your Cursed Technique or something?! What’s that foreign energy that I was seeing--”
He really did not know how to react, as he was indeed still sore. Satoru, with no delicacy whatsoever, started to act more annoying and shaking his body while his face got close to him, too close in fact.
“He just regained his consciousness, you idiot!! Have some sense or use some cells in your brain, at least!” Shoko knocked some sense onto Satoru, her voice matching the intensity of Satoru’s voice.
Shoko’s berating words cut off Satoru Gojo’s panicked line of questioning. Suguru could only sigh at his best friend’s antics, not knowing what he needed to do at this point. The little brother in question, on the other hand, only got a more annoyed expression.
“Alright, alright. Jeez, I was just about to question some very juicy stuff here, Shoko,” Satoru voiced his argument to the only female in the room. “Besides, this is also a very important family matter!”
“Timing matters as well, Idiot!!” Shoko fought back, a vein started to appear on her forehead.
“Okay guys… let’s not fight in front of a child, shall we?” Suguru calmly asked them, struggling to find the right words and tried his best to calm this childish situation. “All that matters is that Shirou is alright now. Let’s just reign in any kind of panicking and yelling.”
“Sure, I’m definitely alright… damn kids.” the child in front of them said those words akin to a whisper, muttering his usual form of sarcasm.
Looking around, he noticed that none of the teenagers in the room heard his comment. ‘Idiots… all of them,’ he thought.
Satoru nodded slowly, absorbing his friend’s words. “Fine~ Okay, Shirou. Your big brother just wanna ask you nicely on what happened before he found you inside the center of the family’s dungeon with literally a mountain of Cursed Spirits already exorcised… So, is that too much for you to answer now? Do you need some babying like what Shoko suggested here? Or can you tell me you’ve awakened your Cursed Technique or something like that?”
Satoru said those words mockingly while looking back and forth on his little brother and Shoko as well. While she was a bit annoyed with his antics, after hearing what Satoru just said, Shoko too, got curious.
“No. Definitely no. And… sure, something like that… like Magecraft.” Shirou Gojo answered all of his big brother’s line of questioning, not even a worry creeping into his voice just a little bit.
The former Counter Guardian didn’t lie, trying to tell the truth instead of lying his way out of Satoru’s question.
Satoru Gojo looked at his little brother in a very serious manner, trying to comprehend what he had just heard.
Satoru then broke out in laughter while his friends behind him only looked at him while being deadpanned. “Bwahahahaha, Shirou, you dumb kid. Still believing that that’s magic huh? You need to stop watching those Magical Girl anime! Hahaha!”
Shirou nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. He knew that Satoru would react this way. After all, Shirou Gojo was just a 5-year-old little brat in everyone’s eyes.
“Speaking of, you got a little tan there since the last time I saw you. Have you played Magical Girl outdoors too much?! Bwahahahaha!”
As Satoru’s laughter still filled up the room. The 5-year-old who was receiving it could only sigh, same as the others that were in the room with him.
“Where’s father, by the way? Did he get angry after you found me surviving in the dungeon and ask you to put me back in there or something?” Satoru’s little brother asked a nonchalant question that was heavy when being heard. The atmosphere in the room was no longer lighthearted, as If someone had just died… and yes, someone did just die.
“Yeah, about that….” Satoru started to explain his little brother about the current situation.
___
The sky over the Gojo family compound was a deep, solemn gray, the sun hidden behind thick clouds as if mourning the loss of the head of the family. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the old trees lining the estate, their whispering a quiet accompaniment to the somber atmosphere.
The compound, usually bustling with activity and the vibrant energy of the Gojo family, was subdued, with servants and family members moving about with heavy hearts and downcast eyes.
In the center of the estate, a grand courtyard had been transformed into the funeral site. A large, ornate altar stood at the forefront, draped in black and white silk, adorned with traditional Japanese funeral decorations. Incense burned steadily, the fragrant smoke curling up into the air, carrying prayers for the departed.
Portraits of the deceased were placed around the altar, capturing moments of his life when he was strong and commanding, a stark contrast to his final, tragic state.
Satoru Gojo, now the head of the family, stood at the helm of the gathering, his usually playful and carefree demeanor replaced with a stony expression. His Six Eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, shielding not only the unique ability but also the emotions he didn’t want to show. Beside him was his younger brother, Shirou Gojo, still had some bandages on him and a bit visibly exhausted but standing firm, a quiet strength emanating from his small frame.
The family members were assembled, dressed in traditional black funeral attire, their faces a mix of grief, shock, and in some cases, a subtle relief. The former head’s reign had left many to wonder about their state, about Satoru Gojo’s strength still in waiting as he had not been the family’s head, and his death brought conflicting emotions to the surface. Yet, they were united in tradition and respect, performing the rituals with the reverence expected of the prestigious Gojo lineage.
As the ceremony began, an elder of the family, a man with a voice like gravel and a presence that commanded attention, stepped forward to address the mourners. His words were formal, laden with the weight of duty and history. He spoke of achievements, his strength as a sorcerer, and his role as the head of the family. There was a practiced neutrality in his tone, glossing over the darker aspects, focusing instead on the legacy and responsibilities that now passed to Satoru.
After the elder’s speech, it was Satoru’s turn to speak. He stepped forward, feeling the weight of countless eyes on him, the expectations and judgments of an entire family. He took a deep breath, removing his sunglasses, revealing the intense gaze of the Six Eyes. The murmurs that followed were hushed quickly as he began.
“My father… was a complicated man, that’s for sure.” Satoru began, his voice steady, carrying through the courtyard. “He believed in the strength of our family, the strength of our family members, and he... well, he tried his best. His methods were... strict, his expectations high. Many of us bore the weight of those expectations, some more than others.”
“He definitely loved his wife, who died years ago. Right now, I think he finally can rest in peace, knowing that he’ll meet her… hopefully. But today, we honor his memory not just by remembering him, but by acknowledging ourselves,” he glanced at Shirou, who met his gaze with unwavering eyes and Satoru then continued.
“I am the Gojo family, and I will continue to stand tall for this family. I expect all of you to stand behind me.“
The words hung in the air, a mixture of truth and the necessary facade for the sake of tradition. But that last part was a bit egotistical for those who heard him.
‘That’s quite an ego check,’ he thought.
Satoru stepped back, his piece said, and the rituals continued. Incense was offered, prayers recited, and the family members paid their respects one by one, each lost in their thoughts and memories.
His little brother stood by Satoru’s side throughout and mind drifted to the events that led them here, to the dungeon where he had faced the Cursed Spirits and survived. He thought of his ‘father’, a complex mix of anger, and a strange, uncomfortable pity.
As the final rites were performed, the family began to disperse, small groups forming to discuss the future, the changes, and the uncertainties that lay ahead. Satoru and Shirou remained by the altar, accepting condolences and speaking with the elders about the next steps for the family. The responsibility now lay heavily on Satoru’s shoulders, but he bore it with a determination that was both admirable and necessary.
As the day wore on, the sky remained overcast, the air heavy with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future. The funeral had brought closure in a way, but it also marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Gojo family.
Satoru and Shirou Gojo were the only ones left. Looking at the sky above, it looked like it was about to rain. They both then walked toward the estate, intending on ending the day before getting washed by rain.
“Glad that that’s done,” Satoru said softly, placing a hand on his little brother’s shoulder. “At least now he can be with Mom… maybe. I mean, after she died, he just became… that, and blaming you for her death? Talk about nuts.”
His little brother nodded, not saying any word whatsoever.
Little did Satoru know that his little brother, Shirou Gojo, formerly Heroic Spirit Emiya, was not even supposed to be in this world. He kept thinking about that. He was never supposed to be born, and letting someone’s mother, someone’s wife being sacrificed for his salvation was just… wrong, in his mind.
“He wasn’t wrong, you know? I did kill her.”
Satoru stopped his walking and looked at his little brother, after hearing what he had just said. The five-year-old had no discernable expression whatsoever, looking stoic rather than sad or angry.
It made Satoru thought of that moment again
“Promise me that you’ll look after him, as a big brother should.”
Satoru looked at Shirou, his little brother, and all he could see was his mother, repeating the same words over and over again. A bit of a somber was appearing in his eyes, with his sunglasses being slightly cascaded down but no one was able to look or discern them.
“Shirou, look at me,” Satoru said while kneeling in front of his little brother, ruffling his hair lightly.
“You may not have eyes as awesome or strong as mine… but you have hers,” Satoru softly said while looking at Shirou’s amber eyes, reminiscing about his mother in the process.
His little brother, on the other hand, only raised his eyebrows. “What does that suppose to mean?”
“It means what it means, okay?” Satoru sighed while responding to his brother’s question. “Look, just don’t think of what Pops said to you and never, I mean, never blame yourself, got it?”
His little brother looked at him as if he had something he wanted to say, but alas, he just nodded.
At the spur of the moment, rain started to drop, looking to endanger both brothers from being engulfed by it.
Satoru instantly used Limitless, his Cursed Technique to protect himself from the droplets. He had an umbrella in hand, and he used it to do one thing; protect his little brother from the rain while he was kneeling in front of him.
‘Look, Mom, I’m starting to do it. Happy now?’ Satoru inwardly asked.
The rain fell slowly, the compound quieting down as the family members returned to their respective homes. The Gojo estate, though still grand and imposing, felt different now, a silent witness to the change in leadership and the promise of a new beginning. Satoru and Shirou Gojo remained, looking out over the courtyard, the weight of their shared history and their uncertain future resting heavily on their shoulders.
“So, I have to go on a mission after this. Think you can hold down the fort for me while I’m gone?” Satoru asked, his voice soft. “Stupid Utahime and Mei Mei need some saving and all that. Probably gonna have some mission after as well.”
His little brother, with an umbrella over his head, nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
Satoru looked at Shirou like he was no fun, considering his brother was just five and all, he thought that at least, children should act cute or something. He then widened his eyes as he remembered something… something that was akin to tradition.
“Oh, Shirou, I almost forgot!” Satoru said, making his brother widened his eyes even further.
“What is it?” he asked his ‘big brother’, looking at him while he was rummaging for something…
In an instant, a birthday cake appeared out of nowhere, and was slammed to his five-year-old face.
“Happy birthday, you little snot!!” Satoru happily proclaimed after slamming a whole birthday cake to his little brother’s face.
With everything that had happened, he almost forgot that this day was indeed his birthday and his big brother always had this annoying ‘tradition’ whenever this occasion occured.
Even after such a shitty and fucked-up day, Satoru still couldn’t catch him a break.
‘Damn you, Satoru Gojo.’
Comments
Bookworm bibliophile
Good though it needs quite the editing
