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You say that like I haven’t already planned out her schedule.
[ Weird. But what else is he to do in this alien Tokyo? Pretty girls and boys are a dime a dozen around here these days, and at least some of them have voices worth noticing and a presence worth molding into just the right shape. (the goddess could be the best of them, a star to outshine Terakado Tsuu, and that’s a little thought he likes to prod at in the quiet moments between sets.)
What else is there to do? ]
But if she toppled from her pretty high horse, it would leave me less time to take up your time. I’d hate to choose.
[ So he knocks the champagne back, face a perfect mask despite the taste and the fizz trying to wrinkle his nose, and when at last it is done and gone Bansai allows himself to brace his weight against Nanami with a hand sliding over a broad shoulder. ]
[ Weird. But what else is he to do in this alien Tokyo? Pretty girls and boys are a dime a dozen around here these days, and at least some of them have voices worth noticing and a presence worth molding into just the right shape. (the goddess could be the best of them, a star to outshine Terakado Tsuu, and that’s a little thought he likes to prod at in the quiet moments between sets.)
What else is there to do? ]
But if she toppled from her pretty high horse, it would leave me less time to take up your time. I’d hate to choose.
[ So he knocks the champagne back, face a perfect mask despite the taste and the fizz trying to wrinkle his nose, and when at last it is done and gone Bansai allows himself to brace his weight against Nanami with a hand sliding over a broad shoulder. ]
I am not a custodian who can grant or deny permission, Choso-san.
What are the things you want lately?
What are the things you want lately?
( In the middle of one of Nanami's outside adventures comes rainbow dragon. There is no hesitancy in its approach, no fear when it slinks down to the jujutsu sorcerer. It drops a carefully held giftbag to the ground before the man, then whips itself back up into the sky. Inside is a few wrapped gifts - an mp3 player that Geto has absolutely added the worst music to ( and some more calming tunes, he still does worry, thank you ), an eye mask, a plushie because they're all idiots, a box of pastries, and a very strong whiskey. There's a note, but all that says is 'It looks like you :)' and nothing more. )
[ Come Christmas day, there are some gifts left for Nanami to find on his doorstep, wrapped up in yellow paper with black dots on it. The amount of effort Yuji put in to finding the paper is probably embarrassing to think about, but he managed it all the same.
Inside the box is a series of gifts:
Nanamin,
I know you didn't want to come back. I know that you might have been happier if you'd never come here at all, and that you'd been allowed to stop. But I'm glad every single day that you came back, that I got to see you again and spend more time with you. I never got to tell you how important you were to me, or how happy I was that I was able to meet you and learn from you, so I'm going to tell you now before I run out of time.
Thank you, for teaching me, and being there for me, and supporting me. I know you're not a teacher, but you don't need to be.
You're Nanamin.
- Yuji. ]
Inside the box is a series of gifts:
🐯 A tie, similar to the one that Nanami used to wear, but more pastel - but definitely high quality, a little bit fancy.There's also a note attached:
🐯 What could be described as a giant jumper, but it's probably around the right size for Nanami to wear, in a dark green colour (avoiding his usual blue, just in case).
🐯 Some notebooks and pens, actual paper versions, that he bought a while ago and never managed to give to him.
🐯 A polaroid, of Yuji and Gojo together, giving a peace sign at the camera.
🐯 Pair of plushes, one a cat and one a tiger, where the cat is wearing cool green sunglasses.
Nanamin,
I know you didn't want to come back. I know that you might have been happier if you'd never come here at all, and that you'd been allowed to stop. But I'm glad every single day that you came back, that I got to see you again and spend more time with you. I never got to tell you how important you were to me, or how happy I was that I was able to meet you and learn from you, so I'm going to tell you now before I run out of time.
Thank you, for teaching me, and being there for me, and supporting me. I know you're not a teacher, but you don't need to be.
You're Nanamin.
- Yuji. ]
You say it as if it were a difficult choice.
[ said with the confidence of a man who has never considered himself significant or special in any manner. the swordsman's attention, as welcome as it may be, is seen as nothing more but a fleeting fancy, an ephemeral pastime, some kind of throwaway pleasure until he finds a new rising star in whatever shape an form. ]
A man of your many talents should be able to multitask.
[ the hand sliding over his shoulder carries a strangely possessive touch and Nanami finds himself tilting his head, mildly curious about Bansai's motive, as he wraps his arm around the other man's waist. ]
Or would you consider that an insult to your object of interest?
[ said with the confidence of a man who has never considered himself significant or special in any manner. the swordsman's attention, as welcome as it may be, is seen as nothing more but a fleeting fancy, an ephemeral pastime, some kind of throwaway pleasure until he finds a new rising star in whatever shape an form. ]
A man of your many talents should be able to multitask.
[ the hand sliding over his shoulder carries a strangely possessive touch and Nanami finds himself tilting his head, mildly curious about Bansai's motive, as he wraps his arm around the other man's waist. ]
Or would you consider that an insult to your object of interest?
[ 'just Choso'. it's not an unreasonable request considering the things they've gone through and their connection to Itadori. the next one, however... ]
Me?
Me?
[ Geto's weight against his shoulder is familiar and foreign at the same time. how did they all grow up into creatures of solitude when they should know better? the worst things always happened to them when they were alone after all. ]
You don't have to make excuses for me. It was my job to know.
[ in a station crowded with curses, Nanami should have known. especially after almost losing to not one but two special grades. the thought of dying has never bothered him much. dying in front of Itadori, however, well, that may be his greatest sin yet.
Geto's words make something in his chest go tight. love? yes, he still does love his moronic senpais in his own way. one of the terrible truths of the world, Nanami has learnt, is that even though their lifespans are finite, love is not. that wound will bleed and bleed internally, leaving bruises nobody will ever see. ]
Where did you go? After the demon parade?
You don't have to make excuses for me. It was my job to know.
[ in a station crowded with curses, Nanami should have known. especially after almost losing to not one but two special grades. the thought of dying has never bothered him much. dying in front of Itadori, however, well, that may be his greatest sin yet.
Geto's words make something in his chest go tight. love? yes, he still does love his moronic senpais in his own way. one of the terrible truths of the world, Nanami has learnt, is that even though their lifespans are finite, love is not. that wound will bleed and bleed internally, leaving bruises nobody will ever see. ]
Where did you go? After the demon parade?
( A note of sound, a little lifeless hum. He brings the bottle to his mouth to swallow more of the drink, habit more than desire. )
Ah, not far. Okkotsu is a strong fighter, and that curse -. ( Still wistful. ) Satoru would have found me either way, it was time. And I wanted it to be him. Maybe that's cruel of me. Forcing his hand the same way they do. ( It's clear who he means by that, the derision creeping in again. He swallows it down quickly enough. ) But I couldn't help it.
( His free shoulder - the one not pressed against Nanami - lifts and falls in a shrug. )
LILITH likes her dead sorcerers.
Ah, not far. Okkotsu is a strong fighter, and that curse -. ( Still wistful. ) Satoru would have found me either way, it was time. And I wanted it to be him. Maybe that's cruel of me. Forcing his hand the same way they do. ( It's clear who he means by that, the derision creeping in again. He swallows it down quickly enough. ) But I couldn't help it.
( His free shoulder - the one not pressed against Nanami - lifts and falls in a shrug. )
LILITH likes her dead sorcerers.
What?
[ sent home when? Nanami hadn't even noticed (how if he's made himself sparse after receiving that letter?). his heart stutters, seizes, and he finds himself running even though he has no idea where the boy is right now? ]
Where are you, Itadori?
[ sent home when? Nanami hadn't even noticed (how if he's made himself sparse after receiving that letter?). his heart stutters, seizes, and he finds himself running even though he has no idea where the boy is right now? ]
Where are you, Itadori?
Stay there.
[ dread and terror mixed together carry him towards the Everlight wing even faster. that Yuji is here and talking to him doesn't mean he's fine. just look at Nanami and his two idiot senpai who are fine here but, well.
manners, years and years of restraint, keep him from just barging into the boy's room. instead Nanami takes a few moments to catch his breath, to fix his clothes, and then he knocks - a slightly impatient sound. ]
Itadori-kun, it's me.
[ dread and terror mixed together carry him towards the Everlight wing even faster. that Yuji is here and talking to him doesn't mean he's fine. just look at Nanami and his two idiot senpai who are fine here but, well.
manners, years and years of restraint, keep him from just barging into the boy's room. instead Nanami takes a few moments to catch his breath, to fix his clothes, and then he knocks - a slightly impatient sound. ]
Itadori-kun, it's me.
[ Yuji, not understanding even a little while Nanami might be sprinting halfway across the base to get to him, looks strangely casual as he opens the door and slips out. His eyes are a little red, and he has his new scars and missing fingers, but he's altogether whole otherwise. ]
Hey, Nanamin. It's good to see you!
Hey, Nanamin. It's good to see you!
What?
[ is this boy serious? the mild panic yields to the kind of annoyance usually reserved for Gojo and he's a hair away from turning on his heel and walking away when he notices the changes.
inhale, exhale. ]
What happened to you?
[ is this boy serious? the mild panic yields to the kind of annoyance usually reserved for Gojo and he's a hair away from turning on his heel and walking away when he notices the changes.
inhale, exhale. ]
What happened to you?
You only said you remembered.
[ don't scare the kid, Nanami. it's not his fault you had a couple of shit months. in fact he's the reason you can still get annoyed and anxious and enjoy the sun on your face along with the cold Tokyo winter winds!
but those scars, the mutilated hand... ]
But did you... live?
[ don't scare the kid, Nanami. it's not his fault you had a couple of shit months. in fact he's the reason you can still get annoyed and anxious and enjoy the sun on your face along with the cold Tokyo winter winds!
but those scars, the mutilated hand... ]
But did you... live?
Yuji...
[ that smile paired with those words, it's everything he would want from the world. heaving a sight of relief, he reaches for the boy, pulling him into an embrace that starts out gentle but grows tighter with each shaky breath.
Itadori Yuji, the boy they made into a sacrifice, survived the ordeals and unfair burdens they've placed on him. for once, just once, the cycle of violence and degradation was broken. at which cost Nanami doesn't know. all he knows is the boy Gojo entrusted him with, the boy who would have died for them all, has made it out alive. ]
I'm so glad... I thought...
[ that smile paired with those words, it's everything he would want from the world. heaving a sight of relief, he reaches for the boy, pulling him into an embrace that starts out gentle but grows tighter with each shaky breath.
Itadori Yuji, the boy they made into a sacrifice, survived the ordeals and unfair burdens they've placed on him. for once, just once, the cycle of violence and degradation was broken. at which cost Nanami doesn't know. all he knows is the boy Gojo entrusted him with, the boy who would have died for them all, has made it out alive. ]
I'm so glad... I thought...
[ The arms are around him and Yuji sinks into them immediately, shifting to press his face into Nanami's chest, breathing out softly and closing his eyes. There's always been safety, here, in the comfort of someone he trusts so completely, so intensely, and the relief he feels... The happiness he feels...
Yuji breathes out, and squeezes his mentor back, as gently as he can manage. ]
No. Nanami, we... [ His eyes prickle. ] I'm okay. I promise, for real.
Yuji breathes out, and squeezes his mentor back, as gently as he can manage. ]
No. Nanami, we... [ His eyes prickle. ] I'm okay. I promise, for real.
I'm glad. I'm so glad.
[ voice barely above a whisper, brittle almost with relief but also guilt. guilt that has lurked at the back of his mind ever since his arrival here. a terrible thing for someone who'd rather remove the source of evil rather than look back and lament the past.
and now this brave boy stands before him and tells him they've emerged victorious on their own. Gojo's pride, his next generation.
perhaps removing the old pieces from the board was necessary. perhaps... ]
I'm very proud of you. I hope you know that.
[ voice barely above a whisper, brittle almost with relief but also guilt. guilt that has lurked at the back of his mind ever since his arrival here. a terrible thing for someone who'd rather remove the source of evil rather than look back and lament the past.
and now this brave boy stands before him and tells him they've emerged victorious on their own. Gojo's pride, his next generation.
perhaps removing the old pieces from the board was necessary. perhaps... ]
I'm very proud of you. I hope you know that.
[ of all the things Geto could have said, this is completely unexpected. perhaps Nanami is too naive, still believing his senpais are The Strongest. in his mind they were immortal. he never expected to learn of either one's demise.
Geto's weight heavy against his side, Nanami exhales softly. ]
That moron. He never said...
[ but he understands why... everyone else had been in Kyoto, fighting the curses and Geto's cult members. by the time they returned... but Nanami never asked, did he? just assumed that Geto had got away somehow like he did the first time.
softly, almost like a confession, because none of it matters anymore: ]
I wish you'd come back.
Geto's weight heavy against his side, Nanami exhales softly. ]
That moron. He never said...
[ but he understands why... everyone else had been in Kyoto, fighting the curses and Geto's cult members. by the time they returned... but Nanami never asked, did he? just assumed that Geto had got away somehow like he did the first time.
softly, almost like a confession, because none of it matters anymore: ]
I wish you'd come back.
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