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Itadori Yuuji, Sukuna’s vessel to most, and overall a truly amazing student, to the one and only Gojo Satoru. Having saved him from an early death, only for it to be delayed, until all 20 fingers were gotten, and eaten by the boy. That was the original plan, and Satoru was to be the executor. However, the more time he spent around the boy? The more time he joked with him? He grew attached to the peach-colored boy, his honey eyes, his cheery attitude… He wanted him for himself. Wanting, craving to keep the boy to himself. Selfish of him, however, he was the honored one, one who gave his life to protect the rest of sorcerer’s lives. Didn’t he deserve to be selfish, after what had happened to those he cared about? Couldn’t he be selfish just once, to protect those he cares about, and keep them with him?
Throughout the earth and heavens, Gojo Satoru alone is the honored one. Praised for his outright abilities, his cursed techniques. He was the one that could defeat anything in his way, be the savior of the whole community. However, it didn’t stop people from slipping through his grasps. Friends, people he held dear. Suguru… Riko… and now Itadori was added to that list. Well, soon, he would be. After he consumed the last finger, he is to kill him on the spot. However, Satoru had hoped to keep him. Keep him close, and safe with him. So, he had a plan. Maybe if he can prove that Yuuji could handle Sukuna, keep him under lock and key, he’d keep his precious student. Let him leave a long life, as his grandfather had wished. Wanting to keep this one thing, this one hope of light, alive. This once, let him be selfish. To keep this bright, cheery teen alive, not just for him, but for his friends. For the people whom he helped, whom he saved.
Then it happened, they had sent his group of first-years on a mission beyond them. Beyond their skill level, beyond what they could handle. It left Nobara hurt, Megumi emotionally and physically damaged, and Yuuji dead. His precious students, hurt, his ward more so having to go against Sukuna himself? He had faired well, but he shouldn’t have had to go through that. Teen’s deserved to enjoy their lives, not mourn the loss of one of their own. It had angered him beyond belief, he couldn’t, protect something again. Gojo Satoru had failed again. Failed his friends, failed his students.
Then, Yuuji came back. Right in front of him, just raised from the table in the morgue, with Shoko even surprised. Gojo had another chance to prove that, he could protect him. This time, he wouldn’t mess up. He refused, not after that. So, to keep him safe until he could fully put a plan in place. He had asked to put his beloved student as still dead, until he could train him more, to help him be able to handle this. He couldn’t handle another death.
To start the training it was first movies, to help him control his cursed energy. Get a handle on them, and even if Yuuji couldn’t do any cursed techniques, he could still use them to his advantage. This was how life was for the following months, Yuuji in his basement, watching movies, with a cursed corpse to help him manage himself. This led to Gojo spending his time with him and getting to know the younger, watching the movies with him. Laughing, screaming (though that was mostly Yuuji screaming in terror.) from movies, eating dinner together. Things Satoru hasn’t done in years, not with Nanami, not with Shoko, not with anyone. He alone was the honored one, and he was meant to be alone. Those who got close… always ended up dying.
However, it was his duty, as Yuuji’s sensei, and guardian in a sense. To protect him, not let him die again.
Then it came to his first mission with Nanami. That mission had destroyed his poor student, it had also hurt Gojo to see. This boy so full of life hurt beyond belief over his newly gained friend’s death, watching him die before him. When the peach-colored boy had returned to the basement that day, no movie’s played. No sounds, well… there was one. Sobbing, crying, sniffling. Satoru had picked up on it easily and had almost rushed downstairs to comfort his student, his ward. The sight before him was heartbreaking.
Having run down the steps of the basement, the room’s feel was all wrong, usually, it was bright bubbly, and full of life. Now, it was only somber, dark, and just overall a reminder of what had happened to his student today. He had heard from Nanami, what had happened to Yuuji, and himself. What went down, and what it had done the pinkette. Had broken his heart, hearing it, but seeing it. It was like ripping it out of his chest. On the couch, was a bundle of blankets, and a shaking form. Yuuji. Slowly moving to the front of the couch, to see how his student was holding up. Blue eyes widened at the sight, as he saw that Yuuji was holding himself close, crying into his knees. Freezing in place, as he saw his student look up at him. Tears seemingly just coming down his face, not stopping as he looked to his teacher.
“O-oh, Gojo-sensei! I’m sorry, if I woke you up, I’ll stop-”
The sorcerer didn’t let him finish his sentence, before pulling him into a hug. Satoru had never done that before, he had never hugged someone like this before. Yet, he held Yuuji close, held him gently, held him so he wouldn’t have to worry. If only he could hold him like this forever, keep him safe in his arms. If only he could keep him here with him, to make sure he never had to suffer again. Yuuji seemed to break at that, seemed to let the flood gates go on. Sobbing into the hold, clung to the taller.
“S-sensei… I couldn’t s-save him. He was so n-nice… H-he would have l-loved to come to here…” Is what his student sobbed out, what he cried out. Running his hands through the other’s hair, to try and calm him down. Gojo shushed him, nodding along, sitting down with the other in his lap. Listening, and holding him close. That’s all he could do, even if he knew the pain. He knew how much it hurt.
“I know… I know, Yuuji. However, it’s gonna be ok, I know it will… You did you’re best.”
The first time he could speak, and comfort him, Yuuji seemed to try and listen. Try and believe that he was right, he did his best. Sukuna mustn’t be helping at all either the moment and whatever that parasite may be whispering in the back of his mind, Satoru was determined to help Yuuji get through this. Humming softly into the air, even if he hadn’t done that in the longest time.
“Yuuji… Calm down. It’s going to be ok, I’m sure, Junpei would have loved it here, however, he is gone… and yes you miss him, but he is safe now. I’m sure he looking over you right now, and believes you are strong, and knows you did you’re best.”
The silver-haired man whispered, trying to bring him peace of mind, and it seemed to work. Nodding along to the words, tears streamed down his face, trying to calm his breathing. Petting his hair, Gojo looked at him with such kindness, to care for this boy. Megumi used to have nightmares all the time, as a kid. Even if he was just a teen at the time, and only considering him his ward. He had done this many times before, for him and his sister. Even if, Gojo on the surface may not seem to know how to handle this. He did, for others. He just didn’t know how to let himself break either. So used to picking up the pieces of others, and putting them back together.
After a minute or two of calming down, with them both on the couch. Gojo actually sitting on it, with the younger sitting in his lap. It seemed that Yuuji had passed out, sleeping softly against his shoulder. Snoring into the air of the basement. Blinking softly at the sight, smiling lightly. Satoru didn’t have the heart to move him, not one bit. Bring some blankets up towards the two of them, and draping the cloth over the two of them. The cool basement air freezing him, and almost freezing his poor student to death.
This time, Gojo Satoru, refused to let Yuuji Itadori go, and wouldn’t let him be alone in this world. Not after this. He wouldn’t let the world destroy someone so pure. No matter what he was, no matter who’s vessel he was.
He wouldn’t let the world kill him again.