"So, why the hell am I riding in a limo?" an elderly man with a face full of wrinkles, short white hair, and sharp green eyes grumbled.
Wasuke Itadori was visibly irritated, his expression like a thundercloud as he glanced around the luxurious interior.
He turned to Jin, his voice rising. "Not only did you sell our house and café, but you even dragged me into this circus! You had me packing like I was some kind of spry youngster!"
Jin, seated next to his father, winced slightly at the scolding. "I'm sorry, Dad, but it's for your safety. I didn't have a choice."
"Didn't have a choice?" Wasuke scoffed, narrowing his eyes. "You expect me to believe that nonsense? You're not exactly the adventurous type, Jin! And what kind of trouble could you have possibly gotten yourself into?"
Kaori, sitting across from them with Seijuro, stifled a chuckle, while Seijuro leaned back in his seat with an amused smirk.
The truth was, Wasuke's day had been nothing short of chaotic. One moment, he was sipping tea in their cozy café; the next, Jin frantically told him to pack up everything they owned because their lives were in danger. When Wasuke had asked why, Jin's response had been vague—just mutterings about "evil people" and "Seijuro Gojo" being their only chance at survival.
The real shock came when he stepped outside and saw a sleek black limo waiting for them. Wasuke's initial thought had been that the mafia had finally come to collect on a debt he didn't even know they owed. He'd tensed up immediately, only to be surprised when Jin seemed excited rather than terrified.
Then, out stepped the white-haired, crimson-eyed man who introduced himself as Seijuro Gojo. Wasuke had been wary, asking Jin hushedly if this was some old friend of his son's. Jin had nodded, though Wasuke could tell there was more to the story.
Introductions followed, but the real bombshell came when Seijuro started explaining things—cursed energy, cursed spirits, jujutsu sorcerers, and the real threats that had made their peaceful lives untenable. Wasuke struggled to wrap his head around all of it, especially the part where Jin was apparently "special" and had "potential" to become a sorcerer.
Now, sitting in the plush limo, Wasuke's frustration boiled over. He glared at Jin, his voice rising. "You stupid son of mine! What possessed you to get yourself involved in this cursed nonsense? Have you lost your mind?"
Jin sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Dad, I didn't choose this. It's not like I went out looking for trouble! Trouble found me."
"Trouble found you?" Wasuke threw up his hands. "Well, congratulations, you're officially a magnet for disaster! And what about me? You've dragged me into it, too!"
Seijuro, watching the exchange with a smirk, finally decided to step in. "Relax, Wasuke-san," he said, his tone calm yet commanding. "Your son didn't ask for this, but he's handling it well. Better than most would in his position."
Wasuke turned his sharp green eyes to Seijuro. "And who exactly are you to be lecturing me, young man?"
Seijuro's smirk widened slightly. "Someone who's saving your lives, apparently."
Kaori snorted, covering her mouth with her hand to hide her laughter. "You've got to admit, Itadori-san, he's not wrong."
Wasuke huffed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat. "Fine. But if this whole situation gets us killed, I'm holding you responsible."
"Noted," Seijuro replied with a mock salute.
The tension in the limo lightened somewhat, though Wasuke continued to grumble under his breath. Jin, meanwhile, stared out the window, clearly trying to avoid his father's ire.
Kaori leaned toward Seijuro and whispered, "This is better than watching TV."
Seijuro chuckled softly. "Yeah, they're entertaining."
Seeing Wasuke and Jin interact, Seijuro felt a pang of longing. He missed Satoru. It had been four days since he left the Gojo compound, and the thought of reuniting with Satoru was the only thing keeping him grounded. He smiled faintly at the memory of his son's mischievous grin and boundless energy.
"Hey, Seijuro-san," Kaori's voice broke through his thoughts.
He turned to her, raising one eyebrow in silent inquiry.
Kaori hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Thanks... for getting me out of that company."
Seijuro nodded, his tone calm and reassuring. "No problem."
Helping Kaori escape the toxic work environment had been straightforward, but not without effort. Her boss, Mr. Kobayashi, had refused to accept her resignation. As the head of a black company, he exploited legal loopholes to trap employees like Kaori. But Seijuro, with his vast wealth and influence, was not easily deterred.
Using his servants' skills, Seijuro had uncovered several incriminating pieces of information about Mr. Kobayashi and the company—violations of labor laws, tax evasion, and even evidence of embezzlement. With this leverage, Seijuro arranged a quiet but effective "discussion" with Kobayashi, ensuring that Kaori's resignation was processed immediately and without retaliation.
As part of his plan, Seijuro also recognized Kaori's talents. He learned she was an accountant and offered her a position in the Gojo clan's financial department.
"It's a better salary," he'd told her, "and you'll be safe within the compound." The monthly salary was an impressive 20k yen—far above Japan's average accountant's pay.
Kaori had hesitated initially, unsure if she wanted to uproot her life. But the promise of safety, the substantial salary and a chance to start fresh, ultimately convinced her to accept.
The limo drove smoothly along the mountain road until it stopped at the foot of a sprawling, picturesque mountain.
A grand Otemon—a traditional Japanese front gate—stood prominently at the entrance, flanked by a winding path leading up toward the compound. The sight was breathtaking, blending ancient Japan's traditional architecture with the serenity of the natural surroundings. Beyond the gate, a Japanese-style suburban village sprawled out, with moderate foot traffic and charming, well-kept homes.
"So, this is where you live, Seijuro-san?" Jin asked, his green eyes wide with curiosity.
"Yeah," Seijuro replied with a small smile. "But before we go up to the compound, there's something I want to show you first."
"Something to show us?" Jin repeated, confused.
"Follow me," Seijuro said, stepping out of the limo. The others followed, equally curious.
Just off to the side of the grand Otemon, there was a quaint, newly renovated café building. Its modern aesthetic blended harmoniously with traditional Japanese elements. The windows were wide and welcoming, the sign above was freshly painted, and the surrounding area was meticulously landscaped.
Jin froze in his tracks, staring at the café with disbelief. "Seijuro-san, is this...?"
Seijuro turned to Jin and Wasuke with a grin. "Welcome to your new café, Itadoris!"
Jin's jaw dropped. Standing beside him, Kaori was equally stunned while Wasuke crossed his arms and scowled—though the faint blush on his cheeks betrayed his gruff exterior.
"You bought us a café?" Jin asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Seijuro nodded. "I felt bad. Because of all this craziness, you had to sell your old café and house. Consider this my way of making it up to you."
Jin looked at the café again, his eyes shimmering with gratitude. "Thank you... Seijuro-san," he said, his voice quiet but heartfelt.
Wasuke huffed, his tone gruff but tinged with emotion. "Tch. Don't think this means I like you, kid. But... it's a decent gesture."
Kaori smiled at Seijuro. "You go all out, huh?"
Seijuro chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey, I figured it was the least I could do."
As Jin and Wasuke walked toward the café, taking in the details of their new business, Seijuro lingered behind with Kaori. His crimson eyes softened as he watched the two men explore their fresh start.
"Sometimes," Seijuro said quietly, more to himself than anyone else, "it's nice to give people something to rebuild with."
Kaori glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "You're not what I expected, Seijuro-san."
He raised an eyebrow. "And what did you expect?"
Kaori smirked. "I don't know. Maybe someone less... human."
Seijuro laughed softly, shaking his head. "Let's get going. We've still got a compound to show you."
✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧
After a while, they were finally inside the Gojo compound. The limo came to a stop in the spacious courtyard, and everyone stepped out, taking in the serene yet commanding atmosphere of the estate.
"Oh, look who decided to show up," a familiar, teasing voice called out.
Seijuro turned to see Toji leaning casually against a tree, his arms crossed and a smirk plastered across his face.
Seijuro chuckled, adjusting his posture. "Ah, Toji, I didn't think you'd be the type to greet me first."
Toji shrugged, his smirk growing wider. "Don't flatter yourself. It wasn't my idea." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "It was his."
Seijuro raised an eyebrow and turned around—only to feel a pair of small arms wrap tightly around his waist.
"Dad!" Satoru's voice rang out with excitement.
A wide smile spread across Seijuro's face as he knelt to embrace his son. He ruffled Satoru's soft white hair affectionately. "Hey, Satoru, how have you been? Did you train while I was gone?"
Satoru nodded enthusiastically, his blue eyes shining with pride. "I did! Every day, just like you told me to!"
"Good boy," Seijuro said, grinning as he reached into his small bag. He pulled out a box of beautifully packaged strawberry shortcakes. "Here, a gift for you!"
Satoru's eyes widened with awe as he carefully took the box. "Strawberry shortcake? Thanks, Dad!"
Seijuro laughed and ruffled his hair again. "Of course, kiddo. You deserve it."
While the father and son were having their heartfelt reunion, Kaori, Jin, and Wasuke stood nearby, watching the interaction with mixed emotions.
'He's got a kid?' Jin thought, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to reconcile this new information.
'He has a son?' Kaori's jaw almost dropped. She had not pegged Seijuro as the fatherly type.
"Hasty," Wasuke muttered, crossing his arms. "This guy does have everything."
Noticing their curious expressions, Seijuro stood up, holding Satoru's shoulder. "Oh, right. Satoru, I'd like you to meet some people."
He gestured toward the group. "This is Jin Itadori, his father Wasuke Itadori, and Kaori Kurosaki. They'll be staying with us for a while."
Satoru tilted his head, looking at the three with curiosity. "Hi," he said simply, giving a polite bow. "I'm Satoru."
Kaori and Jin smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond to the surprisingly polite boy. "Nice to meet you, Satoru-kun," Kaori finally said, giving a small wave.
"Good to meet you, kid," Jin added with a warm grin.
Wasuke grumbled something under his breath but eventually managed a gruff "Hello."
Seijuro then turned to Toji. "And this is Toji Zenin. He's our bodyguard."
Toji gave them a once-over with his usual smirk, but his gaze lingered a little longer on Jin. His sharp eyes caught the hint of Jin's muscular physique hidden beneath his baggy clothes.
"Hmm," Toji hummed, his smirk widening. "Didn't expect you to be hiding that under all those layers."
Jin blinked in confusion. "Hiding what?"
"Your build," Toji said, pointing at him casually. "You've got some decent muscles. Gotten into fights before?"
Jin scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "N-No, not really... I guess I've just... always been like this."
"Hmm," Toji muttered, clearly intrigued. "We'll see about that once Seijuro starts training you."
Seijuro sighed, shaking his head. "Toji, stop scaring him."
Toji chuckled but said nothing, his smirk firmly in place.
"Anyway," Seijuro continued, looking at the group. "Let's head inside and get everyone settled. We've got a lot to do, and I don't want you all sleeping out here."
With that, he led them toward the main building, Satoru still clutching his box of shortcakes and walking happily beside his father.
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Author's Notes:
I'm curious, who do you ship Seijuro with? Or are there any ships you're finding atm?