Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Perhaps it was a folly.

Or perhaps it was a boon.

On the date of Japan’s Ghost Festival that happens to coincide with the Taoist’s Ghost Festival, a babe was born. Under the bright moon, the shrill cry of an infant echoed in the nearly empty hall.

With a billowing surge of curse energy, one that defied the heavens, but eyes as red as the gate of Yomi, a paradox of paradox was born.

Oh to be blessed by the Underworld but to be revered in the mortal realm.

For one Okkotsu Hisa, she sees the beauty in her child.

The beauty in their legacy.

She cried, not out of grief, but out of joy.

A paradox.

Gleaming tears marring her bright face, she smiled down at her infant. An infant whose cries are as loud as the drums in the night as the people of each clans celebrated both their ancestors and her heir. 

And yet, the moment that the infant sees her smile, it smiled bright and wide. A shining smile that stretches into the abyss between it’s gummy mouth.

She cards her hand, trailing her fingers over the fair skin.

Pale skin, deep black hair and bloodstained ruby eyes.

Another paradox.

She laughs, soft and full of mirth. Isn’t it fair for her to name him as a paradox as well?

“Yes.” She whispered. “I know exactly what to name you.”

The infant tilted its head with intelligent eyes. Blessed eyes that have not been seen in their clan for more than ten centuries if records were to be believed.

And so, on August 15^th 1989, Okkotsu Kaiya was born.

“May you learn forgiveness.” She kissed his temple. “May your enemies beg for your forgiveness.” Another kiss. “ And may you grant your allies the same, my Kaiya.”

Another paradox.

With the blessed Samsara Eyes that can peer all souls and their inherited technique, her son would be unparalleled. None would equal him but that of a Gojo with Six Eyes and Limitless.

But that haven’t been seen in four hundred years. Wouldn’t it be hilarious for the heavens to grant that the same year her son was born. Would that make it a fourth paradox?

It doesn’t matter.

Her son would be great.

Her son would be loved. 

And her son would bring honour back to their clan. The Three Great clans would soon be four again. This will show those elders to stick to tradition.

“I hope your life would be blessed, my little Spider lily.”

The babe laughed.

_____________________________________

“Are you sure about this?” Caramel brown meets black as they sat on the field of flowers in the heavens abode.

Rin has always been a worrier. 

She’s kind like that. 

And yes, eternity with his friends is enjoyable. But, there are things that even death can’t part. Things that he still wishes to do. He glanced at Kakashi and Rin and gave them a consoling smile.

“If you do this, you might not come back.” Rin whispered, plucking the purple crocuses between her feet.

Such a fragile thing.

Beautiful yet frail. 

Like everything in life, everything is transient in nature. And yet, the afterlife is eternal. And eternity stretches far and wide.

For people in the Pure Lands, though they might have regret, they don’t need to dwell on the darkness in their hearts. Not when you have eternity to mend and fill those holes in your chest. But for one Uchiha Obito, his life was filled with regrets. Holes after holes of mistakes that can’t be filled in the afterlife. 

There’s no flowers in the heart of one Uchiha Obito.

It’s the same for that creature.

Kakashi doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. From the way he clung his knees tight to his chest and the crease in his brows, it’s clear he doesn’t like it either.

Obito gets it.

He was blindsided once. Deceived and used. He walked a horrible path and somehow, the Sage grants him a hero’s death and put him in the Pure Lands with them. 

They’re worried.

Obito has always been naive at heart. He has always been bright. But even stars could collapse. And Obito collapsed upon himself into a blackhole of death and suffering. So when the Sage came to him and make a proposal, Obito jumped at it.

It’s not atonement.

It can never be atonement.

All the people he killed are here with him.

They linger in the same heaven that he does.

And as much as resentment and anger doesn’t last upon entering the Pure Lands, fear and weariness does. Obito chose to stay far from them. As a result, Kakashi and Rin joined him. 

If he goes through with this, there’s a chance he can’t meet them again.

Each heaven is specific.

Each heaven is meant for different types of people.

If he’s reborn, he’s no longer a shinobi.

He can’t be granted the gates to the shinobi’s Pure Lands.

He’s not doing this because he wants Rin and Kakashi to be able to mingle with their friends and family without worrying about Obito. 

More than that. 

Obito wants to be able to live and fulfil his dream, whatever that new dream may be. He wants to be able to die a good person, a respectable person. And he wants, more than anything, to die and mingle amongst his treasured companions without guilt and regret.

Uchiha Obito has always been selfish. He’s always been stubborn. And hopefully, this time, his selfishness would bloom into a beautiful grandiose flower instead of an illusory flower on the barren soil of deception.

That and, when he looked at it, he can’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie.

Red eye with longing and sadness.

He no longer hates it.

He pities it.

He pities it because they’re the same. 

So this time… This time he’ll do good. And this time, they’ll be friends.

“Yeah.” He smiled at Rin and Kakashi. They don’t need him anymore. They have each other now. “I’m sure.”

Rin nods, solemn but resigned. Kakashi’s pained look doesn’t recede but Kakashi should know by now that Obito’s a stubborn fool. He’s the most Uchiha of all Uchiha. He loves deeply, he feels deeply and he’s more stubborn than them all.

They rose, walking alongside him as the green pasture shifts to soft earth. Obito took long strides with hands behind his head. He doesn’t wait for Kakashi and Rin. He feels elated, anxious and hopeful.

He saw it, one red eye and ten tail curling over itself, alone on the barren soil. He kneeled, poking it by the head.

“Hey.”

The creature opened its eye and rolled them. Huffing before turning away. Rin’s still weary and Kakashi’s hackles are up but Obito knows better. He had spent years getting to know the beast in the Pure Lands.

“I’m thinking of saying yes.” He said, ignoring the creature’s attempt at dismissing him. “But, I think we should be friends first. Don’t you think?”

The creature huffed, growling due to its disturbed nap time. It thrills, a cacophony of broken sound and uneven tone. It’s a shame that it can’t even talk. It’s just another tool, just like Obito was. A seed cultivated by tainted hands until they blossom and the flower that blooms is not a medicine but poison that could tilled the land with blood and grant the gardener their selfish obsession.

“Why don’t I give you a name?” 

The creature’s ears perked up, a long floppy thing resembling a brown rabbit. It’s actually cute if you give it a chance. A brown rabbit with a conch shell back, ten tails with hands attached and one singular red eye in the middle of it’s face. 

“Fuji.” Obito smiled, kneeling in front of it with a sharp smile. The rabbit lifted its head, peeking at him with hidden interest. “It means prosperous. It can also mean peerless. Cause nobody’s as strong and as special as you.”

The creature twitched its nose and Obito takes it as a win.

Kakashi sighed behind him, pushing his hair back. “You’re really doing this.”

Obito nodded again without looking at them. He ruffled the rabbit creature’s head with his fingers. “He deserves a chance too don’t you think? He doesn’t know what it means to be alive and I…” Obito pursed his lips. “I think he can do better. Be better. If all the Bijuus can, that’s just proof right?”

“Aho-ito.” Kakashi grumbled and Rin smacked him for that.

Obito doesn’t care. “I promise, I will never use you. You’ll be my friend and I will never treat you as a tool. Ever again.” He’ll make sure in this new life, he’ll do better.

They both will.

_____________________________________

The first thing Obito — No. Kaiya — noticed is that his memories are in tact.

It’s good.

It means he would remember his mistakes. He would learn from them. He won’t make the same mistakes again. The second one is that he’s been born in a clan, again. This time, he has a mother. A beautiful woman with cold expression but warm eyes. The clan’s no different than that of the Uchiha. Black hair and deep black eyes on sculpted pale features.

Though the Uchiha has always been beautiful, male and female alike, his new clan seemed regal and otherworldly. He dares say that his mother looked likes Itachi’s mother, Mikoto-obasan. But his mother, perhaps it’s bias, is more beautiful. Sharper jawlines and slender neck with silky black hair tied in a braid. 

“Are you not hungry my little Spider Lily?” She asked.

Her warm voice that sung in the air when she named him made him cry. If this is his new life, he’ll cherish her for the rest of it. All he asked from Kami-sama is that she lives long and well.

‘Live long and well and I’ll make you proud.’

He doesn’t know Obito’s parents. He doesn’t care about them anymore. But for this one, this new life, he won’t take things for granted.

Obito — Kaiya huffed. He’s starving but, just because he’s a baby doesn’t mean he has no shame. His mother is traditional. Opting to breastfeed and an infant might have no qualms in that. But an infant who grew and died and was reborn with his past memories…

Well, Obito has shame.

But he’s Kaiya now.

And as Kaiya, he has to suck it up and drink because stupid babies can’t eat dango or candies. He grumbled, reluctantly accepting the meal that was offered.

Oh, the horror!

It’s with this dawning realisation that he heard it. The broken laughter behind his mind. 

‘Fuji?’

The broken sound stopped and grunted.

Ah… His friend made it. Not that the beast would admit it but still, it’s nice to know he’s not alone. He lets his mother’s soft fingers lull him into sleep as he closed his eyes. He opened them to the scene of his mindscape. He heard of it from Kakashi. Heard how each Jinchuuriki have them. Obito never did enter his when he hosted the Juubi.

But Kaiya…

Kaiya’s not going to make the same mistake. He knows what it’s like to be a tool and he won’t let him or his friend become one again.

It’s a shame that even in his mindscape, he’s an infant. He admired the clear blue starless sky with glistening moon and the soft pond with grass edges with his tiny eyes. He turned to the beast that’s sleeping on the water underneath the soft glow.

Fuji still has a thing for the moon.

It’s going to take some time for him to accept that he was never loved.

Kaguya doesn’t love him. Kaguya loves Tenji and Hagoromo and Hamura… But Kaguya doesn’t love him.

He was a means to an end.

A power source.

A guaranteed revenge.

A prison key.

It would take some time but, he’ll make Fuji happy. In this lifetime and the next. 

‘Fuji?’ The rabbit beast looked at him with that singular red eye. It chirped, almost amused at the infant in front of it. As if asking ‘you think you can do anything to me in that body?’

He’s not going to harm Fuji. The beast needs to understand that.

But he supposed that the fact that Fuji hasn’t tried to swallow him whole is a great first step. Maybe naming him has a part. After all, even his mother never named him.

‘How’re you doing?’ 

The beast rolled it’s eyes and went back to sleep. Kaiya supposed that’s enough for today. He’ll try again tomorrow.

_____________________________________

The third thing Kaiya realised is that he’s special.

Oh how the tables have turned and he can’t tell whether to laugh or cry. But he’s a baby so maybe he can do both.

He thought it was normal that he could see his Kaa-san’s chakra — or cursed energy as they’re called here.  He could see all of theirs and they ebbed and flow in various colours, distinct for each person. But his family, his clan, they have the same hue. Their chakra has shades of red and Obito was an Uchiha so he can differentiate the shades of red.

It has nothing to do with the blood stained road on one moonlit night. Nothing to do with Old Man Taka grabbing his feet and begging, asking, why did he do this. 

It has nothing to do with the tears running Itachi’s face as Obito wondered ‘Why are you crying?’ because ‘You chose this.’ And at the time, any and all sins, great and small can be justified as a good deed if it was for ‘World Peace.’

It’s human nature, to always have a self-affirming bias as to rid themselves of guilt and absolves their sins. But the heavens do not care for our internal prejudice nor our biases. For the heavens are just and their standards are beyond mortal comprehension.

He came to this realisation one night when his mother’s reading to him. Stories of his clan and techniques. This world is different yet similar to his old one. He has yet to ascertain whether they are in the future or in a different plane. The Sage is a man of vague statements and contradicting actions. It makes him look wise to others but skeevy to Obito.

There’s techniques, there’s clans and there’s fighting. But rather than fighting others like him, he’s fighting monsters. Actual monsters. 

Curses as they’re called. Creatures born of the amalgamation of all things wrong, disgusting, vile and rancid. These creatures have no conscience.  

They have no love.

They’re nothing more than beasts with heightened intelligence and strengths which is driven by instinct.

And that instinct is to inflict pain on people and kill.

Kaiya supposed it’s a blessing this time.

Because there’s no war between shinobi and there’s no war for world domination. Just a regular routine of maintaining the balance of the world and ensuring that the ones who are not able to defend themselves are protected. It’s mundane but Obito have always strived on routine.

It’s a good distraction and it’s a good life.

“My sweet smart child.” Kaa-san brushed his hair. 

He supposed somehow his mother realised that an infant Kaiya may be, he is more aware and intelligent than his peers. Maybe it’s because he’s blessed. Or maybe it’s normal. 

It has to be right? Because if Obito had ever meet a baby that can understand his plans for world domination, he’s not afraid to drop kick the child from the top of the Hokage mountain out of sheer creepiness. But to his mother, his Okaa-san, she seemed to take it well. In fact, she took his intelligence to educate him even before he could speak. 

“The Kamo has their blood. The Zen’in have their contracts and the Gojo have their infinity.” Her words treading a story line a gentle needle looping through the yarn of wisdom and old. She reminded him of this line night by night. Not as a form of a manipulation. 

No.

Obito’s used to manipulation.

Madara was manipulative. Madara would ingrain in him every day the cruelty and filth of the world whilst simultaneously revelling in his hypocrisy. 

Madara would kick him down a cliff at one point and then throw him a compliment the next. And Obito — young, foolish and starved for affection Obito — had taken the scraps and chew on the bones like a vulture hungry for love. Hungry for affection.

So, yeah. Obito knows manipulation. And he remembers them well. His mother is not manipulative. She’s reciting, educating, and reminding him of how blessed he is. How he is different but not in a bad way.

“We Okkotsu have our technique. We are like the Gojo but in all the opposite way. Where the Gojo is blessed by the heavens, we are blessed by the underworld.”

That doesn’t sound promising. 

The only reason Kaiya’s not crying right now is because his mother seemed unaffected by this seemingly disturbing revelation. And it is far more disturbing to be known that you are blessed by the literal Yomi when creatures of malevolent enigma exists.

“Do you want to know my child? The legacy that we have?” Mother asked, eyes gleaming with warmth.

Kaiya nodded as best as he could. There’s no need to hide his intelligence. Not when his mother seemed to be able to tell from the start. Maybe it’s that infamous mother’s intuition he heard about a lot. Or maybe it’s just his Kaa-san. Despite the lack of Sharingan, Kaa-san’s black eyes seemed more observant that those with.

“The Gojo have their Infinity but that’s not true. Their technique is called Limitless. It bends the space around them. The heavens give them the ability to manipulate space and matter because what is not more divine than the power to shape the world. ”

That’s scary. If there were ever a shinobi that could control matter, well, Obito would have pulled a Tobi and escaped in a cloud of dust instantly.

“But you see, to call forth Infinity, a Gojo needs to be blessed. They need to have the Rokugan and master Limitless. The Rokugan supposedly let them perceive the unseen and process things better. How true that is, we’re not sure. They say it’s a clan secret.”

Kaiya squinted his eyes. That sounds suspiciously like the Sharingan.

Kaa-san booped his nose and smiled and Kaiya couldn’t help but pout. His Kaa-san just chuckled. “But our clan’s technique is called Abyss. It’s because like the abyss, if you stares at it for long, it stares back. Let the blood of the underworld subsume all and swallows them in the bowels of hell. So our clan, we can copy techniques.”

That also sounds suspiciously like the Uchiha and Kaiya might just laugh and cry for real this time. Is he in the future? Have somehow the Uchiha blood diverged and created two clans? He can’t imagine it, a future build solely by Sasuke’s descendant. Because it can only be Sasuke. Itachi was a devoted elder brother who loved only one girl that had met death by Obito’s hand. He never loved another more. At times Obito suspect that Itachi loved his brother more than anyone.

Didn’t he kill the whole clan but his brother? Didn’t he razed the nations for his brother? Make himself a villain so his brother could survive. So his brother would hate him instead.

“You’ll learn how to do that when you’re older.” Kaa-san assured him. He’s not reassured at all. The Sharingan is a foul curse. A stain that maddens the Uchiha and he rather not gain them ever again. 

But he’s intrigued. At least in part due to his mother’s story. 

How are they the same again? 

The Gojo summons Infinity if they’re blessed. What about the Okkotsu? Is the technique ingrained? Something on his face must have shown because mother gave him a soft chuckle.

“You see, our clan also have an ocular blessing.” Fuck. They have a dojutsu. “It’s called the Rinnegan. The Eyes of Samsara.” 

Oh he really wants to cry. He knows that name. He remembers lavender eyes with rings of perpetual motion. Rings that grant you control over all things alive.

He remembered Nagato. 

Was this his Karma for playing the Uzumaki descendant like a fool? 

Please, no. 

“Like the Gojo, our clan’s eyes are given at birth.”

He stopped his panic. The thought of a dojutsu given by birth sounds just like the Byakugan. Maybe it’s not the same. Maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t have to get crushed by a boulder, loose his love, or kill his kin and…

Rin. Rin. Rin.

“You are blessed my Spider Lily. When you were born, you gained those eyes.” Kaa-san picked up a mirror next to her bedside and gently reflect them against his face. He could see them now. He could see red, deeper than the Sharingan, but brighter somehow.

It doesn’t look like the Rinnegan. 

It’s just red. 

Glistening like rubies and he swore he can see the facets reflected in his eyes. And his face. This is the first time he’s seen his face.

He has his mother’s face.

Softer, chubbier round the edges but that’s her nose and her sharp brows. 

He’s beautiful.

But his hair…. It’s a mess. Obito’s hair has always been a mess, as opposed to the other Uchihas. But this, this tops it off. 

It’s not silky straight like his Kaa-san. It’s slightly wavy but curled at the edges. Could it be an influence by his father? The only similarity with his Kaa-san is that it’s black. But even then, it’s darker than the night sky. Like if you lay it over any other surface, it would look like all the light had been absorbed and Kaiya thinks, this too is a sign that he’s been blessed by the underworld.

“The Rinnegan would make you stronger. It turned our Abyss technique into Yomi. There’s not much record about it. You’ll learn more. But for now,” Kaa-san placed the mirror down on his tummy, “live well. Grow well. And I’ll be happy if you could live as comfortably as you desire.”

Kaiya smiled. 

His Kaa-san’s the best.

He’s blessed.

Chapter Text

The revelation of his blessing apparently brings more privilege than he realised. 

It started with the fact that he’s waited by on hand and foot.

He’s sure that nobody, no infant, would have guards and handmaidens at their nursery. The amount of protection is terrifying. He’s not sure whether his Kaa-san is paranoid or it’s because there’s a looming threat over his life. 

Neither of which options calmed him.

He’s not used to it. Not at all. The amount of people in his clan is meagre. According to Kaa-san, the Okkotsu clan have long dwindled that they’re almost a civilian family. Their blood so diluted that there’s only a few who could utilised the bastardise form of chakra left.

Apparently, when Obito was reborn, his energy replenished them, called them and they returned back to the compound. Some overjoyed that their glory has returned, others mourn the death of their mundane life.

He’s bathed in waters dipped in spider lilies, where the lemony smell of death would cling to his very being for the rest of his day, and he would be nestled on the softest of pillows.

He’s mostly certain this world might most likely be the future. He’s seen technology that he’s not used to but even then, having a bed this soft should be a luxury.

Silk. 

Dull red silk with purple threads. 

He’s not used to such luxury. Not used to such treatment. He would grumble and fuss because ‘You don’t need to spend so much on me!’

But alas, nobody understands baby talk and Fuji doesn’t help. So as they placed him on ‘heaven’ and dressed him in the softest robes, Kaiya would pout and turn to the side.

His servants found him cute.

He’s not! He’s older than they are!

Fuji merely chuffed, as if saying, ‘Suck it up, idiot’ and Kaiya’s beginning to suspect that the beast had rummaged through his memories and adopted Bakashi’s mannerism.

‘Rude.’

His mother would spend the day doing who knows what and his eyes apparently still need to develop before they could fully see. He’s not sure what that means. He’s seeing perfectly fine. He’s seeing too much even. 

What does Kaa-san want him to see more?

He doesn’t know and nobody would tell him because they think he’s just a baby. Only Kaa-san treats him normally.

_____________________________________

He was one when he meets the elders and he gain a fourth realisation.

The elders are no different than those in his world; or maybe it was in the past?

Stuck up and foolish and stubborn and illogical and — He needs to pick up a dictionary. Maybe then would he be able to use more words to describe how awful these Old Bags are. Surely vocabularies have expanded that he may use more words to creatively describe them.

It was on his birthday celebration.

For being one years old is apparently a tremendous occasion. 

Apparently, there were assassination attempts on his life and somehow he survived. And he’s cursing that fact because as much as he despised Madara, he’s also trained by him. There’s no way that he wouldn’t be able to detect unfamiliar energy closed to him, even malevolent ones.

Oh, but that’s not what the maids had whispered.

“Did you hear? There’s another one at the gate.”

“And nobody can tell who did it?”

“Surely it’s a sign.”

“Our Young Lord is protected by the heavens.”

“Even the Gojo heir have to have his guards dispatching those vile sorcerers.”

There’s so much people can say around you when they think you’re a dumb baby. It makes gathering information easy. And he’s a shinobi. Information gathering is the crux of what they do.

 But somehow he doubts that Kami-sama have time to protect him. If anything, from what he’s heard, Kami-sama should be protecting the ‘Gojo heir’. He’s not blessed by the divine. He’s blessed by the damned. 

That’s another thing. 

A few months after his own birth, there’s a surge of something in the air. The people of his clan seemed surprised and in awe at the arrival of what could only be reckoning. But Okaa-san had frowned. With downturn lips and creased brows she had tucked him close and whispered platitudes, “I’m sorry. You should not have faced this.” He’s not sure what it means but his Kaa-san should not have apologised. 

It took a day for him to realise that the Gojo heir was born. Blessed with Limitless and the Rokugan and Obito cursed to himself. There’s only so much sign the world could give that things are going sideways soon if not for the birth of two Blessed beings.

He sneered. 

There’s a gut wrenching feeling that the brat would be annoying.

He’s okay with one lifetime of arrogant annoying pricks thank you.

He paused. Something clicked in his mind. If the Gojo heir needed his guards to dispatched assassins, and he didn’t, did that mean — ‘Fuji? Did you?’

He can feel the beast rolling its eye. ‘They were incompetent. They merely passed our domain and died. Weak.’

Yeah, he’s protected by the damned indeed.

‘Thanks, Fuji.’

The beast grumbled.

_____________________________________

The elders were not keen to see him.

That’s for sure.

They bowed, plastered a fake smile and present him with gifts but Kaiya knows arrogance. He knows deception. He was better at it than them.

Tobi was better than them.

They sprout ‘Blessed be thy heir’ but their eyes screamed his death. He’s certain somehow that they were the one who sent the assassins. Fuji’s not happy either. He can sense the malice from their bones as clear as Kaiya can see the anger tapering their cursed energy. He’s surprised that his mother could not.

‘Maybe she could.’

Or maybe it’s because of his Samsara Eyes.

Unfortunately, Fuji can’t kill them. It would bring unwanted attention to his clan. And Fuji seemed to care for them. Or maybe, Fuji cared about him and since Kaiya loves his clan, the beast doesn’t want to implicate them.

He’s heard of the Elders. A group of snivelling old buffoon built on legacies and lead by the Big Three Clan. 

They’re not happy with his birth. Apparently, they have managed to reduced his clan to nothing based on their dwindling prestige. But thanks to Kaiya’s birth, the glory of the clan is reestablished. 

Not restored. 

It wouldn’t be until Kaiya’s old enough to blast them to death but for now, the Big Three is a Big Four and ‘oh, they’re upset’.

Because Kaa-san told him how, in the past, the Gojo and the Okkotsu were equals. Birthed from the same ancestors and blessed on the scales of the Jujutsu world, they were equals. But the Samsara Eyes have disappeared for more than ten centuries and the sorcerers of their clan were forced into hiding because they were culled to almost nothingness.

In another lifetime, Obito had ended a clan. In this one, he’ll revive one. Nobody can sully his family. Nobody can trample his mother. He’ll make sure of it.

“Okkotsu-sama.” The Kamo elder bowed, leering at the infant in his mother’s arms. “It is marvellous news to know that both the blessed children have lived past one.”

“Indeed.” Kaa-san bowed politely.

“Hopefully, they would survive for quite a long time.” The Kamo Elder smirked, followed by the disdainful eyes of the rest.

Kaiya narrowed his eyes. They dare threaten him? Oh, how he would relish in their death. He would ensure that these elders are rend limb from limb. He would —

His mother’s hand gently patted his hair and snapped him from his anger. His ruby eyes take note of the trembling knees of the Elders and the stiffed chin on their faces. The servants of the clan seemed in awe and mildly shivering in front of him.

‘What?’

‘You’ve lost control.’

Kaa-san looked at him with a soft frown. “What’s wrong my Spider Lily?” Kaiya tilted his head. He’s not sure what he did. He should be careful. His anger was his downfall in his first life. He should be better.

Reign it in, chain it tight and make sure he doesn’t loose control. He doesn’t want to hurt his family. He doesn’t want them to fear him.

The night ended without any other unwanted incidents. Amidst dances and drums, a rumour floated the Jujutsu world. 

The Okkotsu heir is blessed. 

And those in the room whispered.

‘A Shinigami of the Damned. A beacon against curses and enemies that would pivot the Okkotsu clan once more.’

_____________________________________

He was four when his Kaa-san let him roam the estate. 

By then, his clan have heard of the eccentric young master that is more mature than usual. The child whose intelligence rivals an adult but whose playfulness belay the truth of his mind. It’s not hard to play a kid. 

He played Tobi once.

He wiggled his butt over the pillar of his clan house. “You can see the butt but not the face ~” He sang. He could hear the loud groan of his caretaker Okkotsu Kagome. A civilian young woman who had served his mother since his birth. She’s the same age as his guard, Yusuke, but she doesn’t want to be a sorcerer, rather preferring to work at the clan as a caretaker. She’s his primary handmaiden.

She bears the same regalness; the black hair and deep black eyes that all Okkotsu have. She’s distantly related so yeah. Most of the Okkotsu clan mates are not there. They’ve hidden all over Japan, perhaps the world, and Kaiya will make sure that his clan could return home one day.

He’ll make sure to raise it from the ground so that the mere whisper of their clan would scream safety, glory, love and call them home.

“Young Lord.” She sounded pained. “You should really act with more decorum.”

He peered his face from behind, a slight tongue sticking out of his face. When else can he be a child? If there are things he learned in his past life, it is important to enjoy his youth, no matter how blessed he is. Kakashi had failed to do so and suffered. Rin had failed to do so and died.

Obito — Obito was moulded and made into a weapon.

He made promises before his birth. And one of them is that he would enjoy his life as much as he can.

And as annoying as Tobi was, he likes the grumbling fondness that Deidara-senpai showed him or the exasperated sigh he gained from the Akatsuki members. It made him happy to at least give a smidgen of entertainment in their bleak lives and mission.

Before they died.

Before he betrayed them.

“Eh.” Kaiya whines. “Kagome-baba, it’s boring to be that way! A child should be a child ya’ know!” Maybe he had taken too much inspiration from Naruto. Can you blame him? He ‘watched’ the kid throughout his life.

Kagome sighed some more. “How can you make good arguments but…” She paused, realisation dawning on her face. And Kaiya could see the anger rising in her cursed energy. A spike of red and clenched fists. Really, she’s too talented to be a civilian. But, Oops! “Who are you calling Baba? Huh, you brat?”

“Scary!” He ran.

He ran and laughed.

He ran and laughed because he was happy. 

He doesn’t know how much longer this fleeting happiness can last. He doesn’t know how much longer his family will remain wholesome and hale. He’s aware that this world isn’t much different from the last. This future is not far brighter than the past. The stage might have been decorated differently but the curtains are the same. The props might be paint anew but the stage creaks the same rusted boards.

They might not fight each other, mainly. But they still kill. They still see the horrors the world can give, and it’s still an endless battle of survival til death do you part.

So for now, he’ll run, and laugh, and play around, and bring joy to those he loves. Because in the past, he made the mistakes of wallowing in misery and bringing forth misery in greater value. 

In the past, he was a folly that reign a cloud of despair darker than his own because he thought that if his life is entrenched in clouds of solitude, so should others. 

In this one, he’ll make sure that he’ll part the clouds and allow the sun to peer through. In this life, he’ll bring them joy as much as he can.

_____________________________________

It was a night after endless tutoring that he passed out on his bed. He groaned, softly caressing the soft sheets and cold air conditioning. If not for the luxury of this modern world, he’s pretty sure he’s facing karma from his past life.

When he was Obito, all he ever wanted was to be taught, to be trained. To be part of the clan’s legacy. Now he pities Itachi. But even Itachi wasn’t trained by endless tutors and snivelling opportunists. He doesn’t tell his Kaa-san. She’ll take action, yeah, but he doesn’t want to trouble her for something so shallow. He can handle grubby fingered people pleasers. He’s not a child.

He closed his eyes, missing his mother’s soft smile peering through the door and let himself lull into the slumbering depths of his mind.

When he opened them, he groaned.

“Oi.” Huh? Who’s that? “Wake up Aho-Ito.”

He opened his eyes and choked. He sat, gasping his breath and —

This is a dream. It’s not real. They couldn’t…

“Hey Obito.” Rin smiled and Kakashi waved and Kaiya — he cried and hugged them and — 

“I missed you guys.”

“Idiot.” Kakashi whispered in his ears, holding him tight. None of them mentioned his trembling frame. “You chose this.”

He could feel Rin elbowing Kakashi in the gut. They pulled apart — reluctantly — with hands still softly latching onto the wrist of another. And he missed them. He missed them so much. He wanted this. He chose this and he’s happy but —

“Your hair!” Rin laughed, tears still staining the creases of her eyes. “It’s different. And your eyes!”

Kakashi doesn’t say anything. The idiot merely blushed and Kaiya could only giggle. It’s here at this moment, in this form, that it’s cemented that Uchiha Obito is no more. Okkotsu Kaiya may carry his memories, may carry his past, his sins and his wisdom, but Okkotsu Kaiya has his own form, shape, dreams and ambitions.

And his soul, in whatever form it is now, is a firm nail in the frame that Okkotsu Kaiya have already replaced Uchiha Obito.

Despite that, his friends, his family, is still his. And no matter what form Okkotsu Kaiya takes, to them, he’ll always be Uchiha Obito.

So they sat, and talked and recapped everything they’ve missed and Rin and Kakashi doesn’t know what to say because time moves differently for them so they tell the bare minimum of what they think is important and they make him tell his life story.

“… Kagome-baba is so mean!” He whined, draping against Kakashi’s shoulder. “But Yusuke-senpai is so nice.” Kakashi rolled his eyes at the theatrics. It’s nice to know he can still annoy the younger. “Ooh and I’m supposed to be able to copy a lot of techniques! But I have to study and understand them and ugh! I mean, the clan actually documented them and it’s easier if we have recordings. And they have this technology where they can record videos and it’s amazing. You can even see how the energy flows and…” He paused, turning to his friends. Warmth draped his cheeks and he scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry. I talk too much.”

Kakashi scoffed, pulling his knees closer. “You’re happy huh?” His black eyes were filled with sadness and relief. A contradiction of emotions but since when have Kakashi never been contradictory?

“Yeah.” He whispered, plucking the flowers around them. “I am.” Rin smiled at him, lacing her fingers around his arm. “I mean, the world’s still messed up but it’s better. Kaa-san’s the best and Fuji’s awesome and… I don’t have friends but my family’s enough.”

The last sentence came out a bit more wistful that he intended. A bit more melancholic. A smack came to the back of his head. “Ow!”

“You’re still being an idiot Obito!” Rin grumbled, huffing to the side. “You’re allowed to make friends.”

Is he? 

He had no family to replace so he welcomed the Okkotsu clan. He doesn’t have a grandmother there and Kagome is more of a caretaker. And he doesn’t care much about the lack of father if his mother was there. Even if she weren’t, he would appreciate anyone who gave him care.

But friends. Friends are something else.

He’s not lacking with anyone who wants to befriend him from what he gathered of the children of his servants. They’re the nice ones. 

Clan children however are all pompous pricks and he thought Kakashi was bad. These children are assholes. Like that Noya? Naiya? Ugh, he doesn’t know. At least he hasn’t seen hide nor hair of the Gojo heir. He’s absolutely certain the boy would be a pain in the ass.

The clan children either looked at him in envy, malice or fear. And they would go as far as to feign politeness to coattail their way to the top.

He could do without them.

But even if he has nice people to befriend, he doesn’t want to. He can’t replace Kakashi and Rin. He can’t.

“Idiot Cry Baby.” Kakashi grumbled, making him turn towards the younger. “It’s okay to make new friends. You’re not replacing us.”

Rin nodded. “Yeah. Uchiha Obito would always be our friend but Okkotsu Kaiya deserves friends of his own. Didn’t you say you’ll be different?”

He shut his eyes tight, wiping them with his sleeves. “Yeah… Yeah, you’re right.”

By the end of it, they had to leave. They had to part and Kaiya doesn’t want to. There’s no telling when they’ll see each other again. 

Maybe this is it.  Maybe it’s their last good bye and —

“Obito.” Kakashi’s whispered his name softly. Softer than he ever heard him mumbling in front of the memorial stone. He held his arms tight and for just that moment, Kakashi is seeing him. All of him; be it Obito and Kaiya. “Before you go, I just want to say that I — .”

He would never forget those words.

He would never forget them.

And when he woke up, crying into his pillow with his mother holding him tight and face laced with steeled concern, he promised; He’ll try.

_____________________________________

It was one fine afternoon of him hanging outside the clan compound with his guard, Yusuke, that he sees him. 

He was walking around in his clan robe. Black with the red symbol of the eight pointed spider lily circle emblem when he spots him.

Dressed in white robe and stitched with blue five pointed plum blossom emblem. White hair and blue eyes and —

“Bakashi?”

Chapter Text

Kaa-san left to have a meeting with the Elders and she promised they would go out today to watch a movie. 

Whatever that is.

It would be his first time going outside the mountain, into civilisation. Yusuke, his guard, is a charming young man with slick black hair neatly combed and wearing the Jujutsu uniform. He’s in his final year and the clan doesn’t produce that many sorcerers anymore.

They have long dwindled into almost civilian status. Partly due to them going into hiding. He’s not sure why but there must be something there. 

A history long forgotten or hidden for the sake of their clan.

And partly because, their clan technique utilised an abundance of curse energy and not many could utilise it. The technique is strong but, as strong as it is, it bears a great toll. Even Yusuke could only copy one Grade One technique at most before his reservoir’s depleted. But Yusuke’s talented enough to use as many of the lower techniques. He’s a Grade 1 sorcerer.

They’re limited in how many techniques they could use.

Kaa-san can use two Grade Ones simultaneously before she’s exhausted.. That’s why she’s the strongest.

Well, that is until Kaiya.

Kakashi said it’s his eyes. 

Obito wasn’t as smart as Kakashi, true, but intelligence doesn’t come from the soul. It comes from the brain and Kaiya’s brain is exceptional. He long made the connection before Kakashi told him.

He inherited the Uchiha’s eidetic memory and Obito’s photographic reflexes but in a vast capacity and unlike his clansmen which stored their techniques in their inherent cursed energy, the Rinnegan allows him to use the world as his storage. Sort of. 

It’s hard to explain.

He can see the cursed energies that nobody else can. He sees it in people, he sees it in objects and he sees it in those who tried to conceal as if it was unveiled to his eyes. And his eyes, true to its name, absorbed those curse energy and convert them to his own when used so he doesn’t have to deplete his own. 

A cycle of death and rebirth. 

A Samsara.

Not like his is meagre, so to speak. With Fuji in his body, his curse energy encased the mountain if it flares and those sensitive to it would normally be blinded so he normally have to reign it in.

It could be because of Fuji or it could be in his blood. He’s not sure and he doesn’t want to reveal Fuji yet to his clan. 

He has a plan and he’ll do it later. No need to give more ammunition for any other assassinations. He’s supposed to be encouraging Fuji to be a pacifist. Not giving him more opportunity to commit acts of violence.

He supposed he can’t expect a Bijuu to be docile. 

None of them were.

He’s so used to reigning energy in. He’s done so as a shinobi.

Chakra is the accumulation of Yin and Yang energy. It ripples and it bales like a soothing wave that could trash at any moment. Cursed energy is made of purely negative energy. It’s not exactly Yin. Because Yin is negative but cold, calm, and unassuming. Yang is positive, trashing, and exuberant.

Cursed energy is negative in that it accumulates all the evil, contains the violent rampage and utilise it. It’s a twisted form of Senjutsu that uses all the corruption in the world but instead of purifying it, it spits it back in a more refined form. 

Twisted but refined.

But, regardless of how chained up his energy is, it is still clear in his eyes. It spread like a blazing inferno, the fires of retribution and judgement from the underworld that consumes the mountains and grows as he ages.

Oh.

But he’s not the only one.

He’s aware of this.

Because not four month after his birth, a second flare erupted on the mountains. And this curse energy is blue. Bluer than the sky and clearer than the waters dripping from the crevices between the mountains.

Where Kaiya’s curse energy licks up in flames, this one swirls like a billowing tide.

That’s when he knows instinctively, his equal was born.

The Gojo heir.

He made a point to avoid the brat because that’s what he is, a brat. He never met him yeah but all clan children are brats.

Worse so this one is an arrogant one.

He can tell just from the billowing of cursed energy. From the spike that screams I’m the strongest and the most powerful.

Pft. 

Obito might have hated this kind of kid but Kaiya has memories of two lives and he’s not going to stoop to the level of a brat. He’s above it. He’s mature. He’s better. That’s why he decided, in his boredom of waiting for his mother, he’s going to confront the brat and shows him maturity.

So when he sees the Kakashi lookalike, he lost it and all the memories of an arrogant young Bakashi came to his mind and his mouth lost its filter and he says;

“Oi! Stop flaring your energy. It’s an eyesore!”

The Bakashi clone turned to him with indignant fury. Clearly he never had people disrespecting him and he’s not aware of who Kaiya is. He thinks he’s better. It’s obvious from the slight stutter of his heart and the tiniest widening in his pupils. It’s scary how much Kaiya can see with his eyes. Well Kaiya will show him.

Because both Kakashi and Sasuke had one thing in common.

They need an equal to throw them down a few pegs.

A rival.

The brat turned to him, blue meets red, and there’s a moment of stillness. Of opposites meeting equals and dawning recognition.

Of two halves that’s never meant to be whole, have never been whole in the history of Jujutsu  because when one is born the other isn’t. But for some twisted reason, some innate reason that surely signifies incoming revelation that warrants two equally strongest, the two halves were blessed in equal time and equal footing.

Or perhaps it was always meant to be just the Gojo heir.

One sole pinnacle heir as the strongest and nothing more and nobody in their path.

And like a shounen protagonist that he often read in the manga Yusuke kept, the protagonist was supposed to be arrogant and cocky until one damning failure became a pivotal point that change their lives.

But there’s no one singular protagonist.

There are two equals.

And this is the real life.

There will be no one singular being at the top and there will be no one defining moment that twists the protagonists worldview.

Because Obito took the deal. Because Obito was selfish and took the offered hand and he was reborn, blessed, and his birth has pivoted his clan once more from being nearly buried in the claims of civilian life into their glory days.

And as such, it is Obito’s duty — Kaiya’s duty — to ensure that the supposed shounen protagonist’s life is twisted and moulded before it can turn into an unending disaster.

The cursed energy cracking the ground beneath the Gojo heir’s feet, flaring. His eyes aflame and he’s expecting Kaiya to grovel and back down.

He scoffed internally. 

Kaiya and Obito doesn’t grovel.

He unleashed his own cursed energy and the two opposites crackled, crashed and singed the other. It sparked, it burned, and it swirled violently against one another.

“You.” The Gojo growled.

“Me?” Kaiya feigned innocence and he could feel Yusuke groaning behind him. 

He would inform mother to increase Yusuke’s pay. It’s not everyday that a sorcerer could stand firm against two tsunami of curse energies reigned in by territorial toddlers. 

“You’re the reason why I’m not the strongest.” The Gojo heir sneered. “You’re the interloper.”

‘Did the brat know? It can’t be. The Six Eyes give inhuman processing. Not conspiracy theory prowess. Maybe…’

Kaiya gasped, dramatically covering his mouth with his hand. “Oho. Big words for a brat.”

“We’re the same age!” The brat stamped his foot, cracking the ground some more. He’s certain by now that many sorcerers have felt the flare of two tyrants brawling it out in a sign of sheer we’re not equal and I’ll show you who’s the strongest.

He can see how Madara is appealed by power. The man has it right. You can do anything if you’re strong. But he’s not going to use it to conquer.

No.

Kaiya’s going to use it to annoy this brat. So he’ll turn it up a notch. 

He turned to Yusuke and pouted with his wide ruby eyes, wiggling his hind at the brat. “Ne, ne, Yusuke-senpai~ I think I hear a dog!” He glanced back at the steaming Gojo heir and barred his fangs. “Woof~”

“Kaiya-sama.” Yusuke groaned into his hands.

“Hey!” The brat growled and his energy have turned from a tantrum into raging indignation. A flash of cold, bone chilling, superiority flashing and the only reason Yusuke’s not panting on the ground and skin scorched with blisters is because of Kaiya’s own energy pushing it back. “You would do well to speak properly to him, servant.” 

Oh. 

Oh no.

Kaiya knows this type of person. It’s the type of person who would revel being at the top and sees everyone as ants. Nothing more but a god on earth that would gaze upon their scrying glass from the heavens and watch the ants milling about and picking food where a single flick in the dirt could destroy a colony.

It’s just like Madara.

Believing themselves to be superior but when they found an equal, nobody can trash their equal but them. Madara spent days where he cursed and defied the Senju but pride drips from his tone about Hashirama in equal fervour. That old man really was crazy.

He has to stop this soon.

The brat took one step forward, pushing his cursed energy against Kaiya’s own. “He might be an interloper but he’s your superior. Weaklings should address us properly.”

“Oi.” Kaiya growled, pressing back against the crashing tide of curse energy. Blue, so much blue, that Kaiya’s own rage is the only thing stopping it. “Who do you think you are, huh? You can’t tell Yusuke-senpai how to act!”

The brat took a step back, as if he’s been struck before his eyes turn steel again. “Why you…”

Okay, Kaiya has enough. 

This brat has the strongest superiority complex he had ever seen and he has the power to back it up. 

This could turn ugly. 

They’re already gathering crowds against the edges of the park and he could feel the Elders becoming queasy from their meeting room. He has to end this before they come out.

Sasuke’s own complexes were not back up by any strength and this brat is more than Kage level at this age. He has Sasuke’s complex mixed with a Jinchuuriki’s strength and without any insanity or lack of control that they possess.

He snatched Yusuke by the hand and turned. “Let’s go Yusuke-senpai. I don’t want to play with a dog that barks a lot.” There’s a growl from behind him but Kaiya ignores the runt.

“Kaiya-sama, it’s rude to grab a person by the hand.”

A brief flash. That’s all it takes. He could sense the Gojo heir tensing and sense the air clearing, the static dissipating into endless void, and he won’t allow anyone to harm his family. 

So in a split second he turned, wave his hand, and the flash of cursed energy materialised underneath in the shape his clan’s symbol dyed in red. 

“Yomi no Kuni: Susanoo” he whispered.

The Gojo looked at it with wide eyes and before he could react, his energy fizzled into nothingness.

“Wha—“ The boy landed with a thump, eyes wide in disbelief.

Kaiya lets go of Yusuke and turned. The brat really needed to be thought a lesson. Tobi has to take a backseat for now.

“Know this.” Kaiya sneered, pinning the brat down with his own shining blood rubies without taking another step to and from the arrogant brat. “We are not equals just because our curse energies are similar. We are equals because I can subdue you. Next time you throw a tantrum I’ll seal your curse energy longer.” He then turned. “Don’t ever talk to Yusuke like that again!”

He’s sure that Yusuke-senpai is stunned. As far as the clan is concerned, their young lord has always been playful and cheerful. But that’s not true.

Tobi was playful.

Obito was merciless.

And Kaiya — Kaiya can be both.

He left the brat on the ground and ignored the chattering public. He doesn’t care that the others will talk about how there’s already conflict between the two heirs and that the Okkotsu heir is stronger.

He saw his mother and beamed. But his smile faded when he saw her furious expression. Outsiders can’t tell but all clan members can see the slight downturn on the edge of her lips and the flames licking her gaze.

Oh. 

Mother’s pissed.

“Kaiya~” She singsonged and he swallowed.

_____________________________________

The trip with Kaa-san was fun. The cinema is apparently a large screen that can play shows! They’re amazing. It’s loud but the food is nice and the couch was soft. But it’s the best since Yusuke and Kagome was there. Everything was great! It was amazing.

The scolding was not.

Kaa-san said he had to learn to be careful with how he acts. It’s not like he doesn’t get it. He had a lifetime of making sure his actions are guarded and untraceable all so people could not tell that he was the mastermind behind some of the Elemental Nation’s abhor acts. But, this is Kaa-san and when she says something, Kaiya can’t fight her on it.

So here he was, at the park shared by the clan compounds with a box of kikufuji and watched over by his Kaa-san and the Gojo Head like two sharks watching their young mingle except rather than just protectively watching over them, the two heads are equally sizing potential prey.

It’s terrifying even for him who have lived a lifetime and be blessed.

He doesn’t have an overestimation of his ability.

He knows them.

But because he has memories of Obito that he’s more earthly than divine. More grounded than floaty. The Gojo heir does not. And so, as the one with more life experience, he has to be the bigger heir.

Kaiya lets out a long suffering sigh and he could feel his mother’s irritation growing. Kaa-san is sweet, lovely even. She would kiss his wounds and comb his hair and let Kaiya be just a kid. But Kaa-san also would punish him for misbehaving and she doesn’t put him on a pedestal like the other clans and some of his clansmen does. 

Perhaps it’s because Kaa-san’s aware that Kaiya doesn’t like that. 

He doesn’t want to be untouchable. 

He knows he is. 

He’s blessed and divine and he just wants to be grounded. Where birds would enjoy to take flight and watch from above, Kaiya doesn’t mind the clipped wings because for Kaiya, he wants to be amongst the worms.

At least for now.

At least for his youth.

Because one day the wings will heal, whether he wants to or not, and the worms will be hunted and Kaiya will have to take flight and have to become another vulture in the sky to protect them from any unwanted predators.

For now, Kaiya can pretend he’s a worm. 

But it’s so hard when he’s facing another vulture in front of him that took flight and swirls around him and cawing ‘how dare you mingle amongst those dross because you’re better and we’re better’ and Kaiya’s tired and he’s only four.

The brat was already pulling on his nerves and the Gojo Head is looking at him with something akin to interest and distaste. An eerie reminiscent of Kakashi with those silver hair of his. Of course he would. 

If Kaiya wasn’t born, the Gojo clan would have been unparalleled. They would have sit at the top with no equal and could do as they wish.

The heavens might have their plans but the underworld have theirs too.

The brat already looked at him with a frown from afar but he perked up when he saw the box. His face brightens before it morphs back into faux disinterest. No doubt those eyes of him can see through the box. Such is their life because his eyes can do the same.

Enhance perception and processing.

Be it physical or cursed energy.

The Gojo can perceive all to affect the physical plane.

The Okkotsu can perceive all to affect the spiritual plane.

They’re opposites. 

Like oil and water they do not mix.

If he thought Bakashi was bad, he was sorely mistaken.

Kaiya’s tired of dealing with these sort of people.

“Get on with it Kaiya.” His mom smiled threateningly. Fuji grumbled alongside him because even the beast doesn’t like those eyes peering at them for long. Not like they can see through him. They’re both walls over one another.

“Hai…” He huffed and stepped forward. “Here. I’m sorry.” He shoved the box at the Gojo heir and ran back to his Kaa-san. 

Kaa-san let out a long suffering drawl, seemingly done with his behaviour. Surely she must know that’s as far as Kaiya’s going to go to even apologise.

Wasn’t it Kaa-san’s wish to ensure his enemies beg for forgiveness? He’s not going to forgive this brat that easily. He nearly killed Yusuke.

The Gojo heir however gleamed at the box and he stared at Kaiya like he’s reassessing his earlier judgement.

‘Children are so easy to sway.’

Kaa-san gave the Gojo Head a nod in which the rude man returned with an approving nod. There’s something in his eyes, like he recognises something in him. But the way he looks at Kaa-san, he’s sure there’s history between them.

The Gojo heir gave him one last glance and smiled before catching up with his father.

Kaiya can’t help the shiver travelling down his spine.

‘He’s trouble.’ Fuji chimed.

And Kaiya can’t help but agree.

Chapter Text

As long as Satoru could remember, people have always deemed him perfect.

He’s born blessed. With eyes that can see all and hair the mark of the divine. Servants wait on him on hand and foot as they should. Goat’s milk bath to his hands and feet and only the finest meal for his growth.

He is the strongest and everyone in the clan and out knows this.

At least, that’s what he was told.

His eyes can see all and there was something at the other side of the mountains that always intrigued him, a flare of red that reaches the heavens like his blue. The red sways like a gentle flame, beckoning a warm call, but Satoru knows that a touch can turn anything into ashes.

It could not be a curse, as much as the fleck of curse energy is abnormal, because surely as weak as these ants are, they would have ban together to rid of said curse to protect Satoru.

Satoru’s precious.

Satoru’s the greatest.

And Satoru can kill anything that comes close if these ants are that worthless. Such is the pain of being the greatest. 

It’s not until he was four, during the Obon celebration, on one particular day that things became clear. A mystery unravelled.

Satoru was stuffed in stuffy robes and pushed to attend a stuffy celebration and oh if they touch him one more time they will live to grovel over his feet forever. But there was a convergence of curse energy towards the red, and he knows the sorcerers are not there to exorcise whatever the red is.

So he made it a mission. He’ll demand the servants to tell him because mother’s dead and father’s a snivelling coward who wants him as a bargaining chip but too scared to tell him straight. Honestly, the old man doesn’t even tell him why he deems Satoru’s position important. It’s more than power and politics. That’s much he’s sure.

Not like the servants are any better.

They look at him, bowed politely, but their cursed energy thrums with malice, envy and fear. Bunch of rats who would wait on him with dishonesty.

He doesn’t mind. He’s the strongest.

As long as they serve him, they could fester their hatred and rot for all he cares. He can’t curse them, as much as he wants, because the strongest should never do that and he’s a divine being.

He doesn’t have to curse them. The heavens will strike down those he despise.

He’s certain.

So he turned to his servant, the one kneeling at his door and asked. “You.” The servant quivered. “What are those old bags doing?”

Surely any regular ant would be executed for calling the Elders old bags but not him. Not Gojo Satoru. They sneer but bow because as much as they hate him he’s protected and if they touch him, their afterlife would be an unending torment.

“Gojo-sama, they’re attending a celebration.” Not an answer he’s looking for and the servant knows this. She can tell from his face that he doesn’t need to ask more. “It’s the celebration of the birth of…” The servant trailed, biting her lips like it would invite her ire. 

Oh, she’s not safe. 

Whether she would tell him or not, both won’t end well for her. But if his curiosity is satiated, maybe he would grant her reprieve. Depends on how’s he’s feeling.

“He’s…” This is getting annoying. “It’s the fourth birth year of the one blessed by the divine.”

Ah, the floor cracked.

‘Blessed? By the Divine?’

The servant bowed, slamming her head to the breaking floor. Whether it’s out of her own will or Satoru’s own, he doesn’t care.

“Explain.” He’s not happy. Not one bit.

“Go—Gojo-sama. He’s blessed with the Rinnegan and heralded by the gods just like you and —.”

The air turned heavy and she doesn’t have to tell him more. His mood was already soured from having to entertain these imbeciles. Spending days under tutors who knows theories but doesn’t have the power to show him how to use his own technique, talking as if they’re the best and the greatest when they’re just ants thinking they could reach the skies.

But this — This pushes him off the edge.

An equal.

He has an equal and nobody told him. 

He has an equal, born on the day where the curtains between the living and the dead is thinned and blessed with the Eyes of the Underworld and they never think to tell him?

He’s angry.

He’s pissed.

An interloper to his throne as the strongest.

To makes matters worst, he came first. Satoru’s born on year’s end and with all the power he has, he can’t change his birth.

But this interloper came first and that means…

That means…

Satoru’s the interloper. And that would not do.

A large part of him rages and he so wishes he could decimate the interloper. But what would that do? That’s his equal and that means, he can’t harm him.

Oh, but if he so wished to be blessed by the Underworld, he’ll make the interloper’s life a living hell.

But a smaller part of him, the one that have long been alone, thrills.

He has an equal.

Would they see him with contempt?

Would they fear him?

Or would it be because they are equals, they would be friends? After all, shouldn’t the divine mingle with the like?

And then the thrill ends and he remembers that the interloper had never visited him. Does he think Satoru’s beneath them?

He’ll show that interloper. He won’t seek the interloper. They’ll have to come to him and he will show them who’s the best between them.

_____________________________________

He can sense the interloper before he can see them. He doesn’t have to turn because his mind already wonders; ‘Are you coming now because you’re curious or are you mocking me?’.

He wants to see their reaction, wants to see how they view him. He expected fear, malice, jealousy, anger, hatred. What he didn’t expect was disbelief, awe, adoration and it’s you.

It’s you and you’re here and fondness and warmth and — 

He never felt this.

He never felt somebody looking at him like that. Like he’s treasured without any hint of doubt. Like he’s a pearl; rare, shiny and valuable that should be tucked in with both hands and kept safe and warm.

Yes, that’s how he should be seen.

That’s how his equal should see him.

Just pure warmth with no malice.

When he sees those eyes, he’s caught. The titular red, deeper and clearer than any shade that no paint nor ink could do justice. Placed on pale skin the colour of porcelain and hair the colour of starless night.

A masterpiece of a drawing pasted amongst the scenic mundane world, and he’s entrapped in it like a devoted viewer. Going in and out of the revolving door of a museum where the only artwork is the one and Satoru’s ensnared.

For a singular moment, Satoru preened.

For a singular moment, Satoru revels.

That is until those eyes recognised him and oh. 

‘Who are you looking at with those eyes? Why are you so disappointed that it’s me? Who do you deem worthy to see with that effervescent love and care and why can’t it be me? Aren’t we equals?’

So Satoru rages. 

He trashed and he sneered and ‘how dare that worm gets to hold your hand’ and he landed on the ground pinned down by blazing fiery eyes filled not with contempt, but annoyance and ‘What would I do with you, Satoru?’. 

And Satoru thinks this is it.

This is is his equal.

This strength, this blazing power.

This must be his other half.

And when he sees his equal again, with those billowing dark hair and bloodstained eyes, the boy handed him a box of sweets. How does he knows Satoru loves sweets?

Kikufuku made with edamame paste and sweet filling.

Ah. 

This must be one of those scenes he read in a manga. Where the titular protagonist attracts a rival who’s a tsundere but they stalked him and knows everything about him and —

Surely this offering means ‘Notice me, Senpai.’

_____________________________________

Kaiya’s creeped out.

“Kaiya-chan!” The Gojo heir called, waving from afar. This makes it the fifth day in a row that the brat had visited him and he’s not sure what he did to gain the sight and flare of pure adoration and puppy eyes.

Kagome stood behind him laughing into her sleeves while Yusuke, as stoic as his face is, is flaring with boundless humour. Even Kaa-san is peering from her office window with hidden mirth and Kaiya’s not sure what he did.

“Kaiya-chan! Let’s play!”

He squints his eyes because he swears he’s seeing flowery outlines and despite the existence of curse energy, what the hell is that holy fluffy radiance? 

This is not a shoujo manga.

Yusuke snorted and Kaiya glared because ‘This is not funny!’

‘The kid’s demented.’ Fuji commented and Kaiya can’t nod because there’s too many witnesses.

“What do you want Gojo?” Kaiya continued munching on his dango. His precious sweets that he only gets to eat during break because his training is hellish and he’s slowly getting used to it and he’s no longer feeling tired because he can supplement his energy with surrounding cursed energy and —

“It’s Satoru.” The boy whined, drooping dramatically and just dealing with the Gojo heir is sapping his leftover energy. “Sa—to—ru—.”

“Ne.” The Gojo sat next to him, eyes sparkling at his plate. Kaiya couldn’t help but be amused so he offered the boy one stick because that’s just good manners. The boy’s eyes sparkled and he gasped. “Is this, finally the sign of our blossoming feelings?” 

‘What feelings?’ Both he and Fuji thought. They ignored the choking and coughing of his two guardians behind him.

‘The boy’s demented I’m telling you. Throw him to the wolves and run!’ 

Kaiya internally shook his head. He unknowingly grinned, missing the reddening on the Gojo heir’s face. ‘Must be lonely being alone in the Gojo clan. They’re not warm like ours.’

When he turned, he could see the boy happily munching the sweet with a content smile and he can’t help the fond quirk of his lips.

“Don’t eat too fast.” He patted the Gojo heir’s head, a habit Obito had when babysitting his baby cousins. “You’ll choke.”

The Gojo heir turned red and nodded. “Hn.”

Kaiya tilted his head, peering at the heir properly. “Are you okay? Why are you so red? Are you sick?”

The boy squawked. “I don’t get sick. I’m the strongest so I don’t get sick.” He pouted. Gojo fiddled with his treat, rolling it in his cheek and paused in thought. “You don’t too right?”

Kaiya has never thought of that. He just thought that he hasn’t gotten sick yet and maybe it’s related to his blessing. 

Kaiya nodded. “I never thought of that.” He turned to the other. “You’re pretty smart Gojo.”

The boy looked at him with wide eyes and stuffed cheeks and he’s redder and ‘Is he sure he’s well?’

‘He’s not well in the head.’

‘Fuji’  Kaiya scolded. ‘Be nice to the kid.’

‘How is it that you live one lifetime and still can’t see it?’

‘Can’t see what?’

Before Fuji can answer, he’s drawn out of his musings by a tap on his feet. He’s met with excited blue eyes. “Wanna play?”

Kaiya hummed. “But I have lessons after this.”

“Just ditch them.”

“Huh?” Kaiya looked back. “I can’t. That would be rude to my tutors.”

Something he said must not settle well because Gojo’s energy is flared with annoyance. “Why do you care?” Kaiya tilted his head. “We’re the strongest. Nobody can force us to do anything.”

Kaiya supposed Satoru’s right but — “You’re right. They can’t.” Gojo preened. “But, it’s because we’re the strongest we should set an example don’t you think?”

Kaiya turned to the boy. He’s swinging his feet over the porch, dangling them in motion and in thought. He’s not convinced. But that’s okay.  Kaiya doesn’t have to convince him. He just have to tell him his own stance and at least Gojo would respect them.

But he can’t help look at the boy and all he could see is Kakashi. So strong and so solid, standing at the top and admired by many but yet so alone. 

Sitting at the top is lonely. 

Kakashi knows this, Obito knows this and, they don’t have anyone to share that with them and — Gojo doesn’t have to be alone. Because he’s not the only one who is meant to be the strongest. Kaiya’s one too.

So maybe, it’s not bad to be the strongest together.

It’s not bad to sit on the throne at the top and hold the pillars of the world on both their shoulders because that way they won’t be crushed. They’re divine blessed but they’re mortals. They’re akin to gods on earth but they’re not. In the end, mortals would crumble under the weight of loneliness and responsibility and he’s seen it before and he doesn’t want to see it again.

So he steeled himself and asked.

“Say, Gojo —“

“Satoru.”

Kaiya huffed. “Satoru… Why don’t you come over on the weekend yeah?” The boy — Satoru — perked up. “You like sweets don’t you? We can play, train and I’ll make you sweets!”

“You can cook?” 

‘Ah so adorable.’

“The Young Lord is exceptionally talented in the kitchen.” Kagome added and that’s not true. He’s adequate and he’s used to living alone and Madara’s a picky eater so he’s used to cooking even if Obito doesn’t need it. Obito doesn’t need it but he likes to eat because it makes him feel human. And now he is and it’s a useful skill.

“Sure” Satoru beamed. “But I’ll come back every day so we have to play together!”

Kaiya can just nodded reluctantly. He’s learning that the Gojo heir might have Kakashi’s arrogance, but he’s filled to the brim with Naruto’s I’ll do what I want attitude.

“Sure.”

Satoru leaped, jumping in joy, wiggling his butt in an exuberant manner and Kaiya thinks ‘This is someone who knows how to enjoy his youth.’

_____________________________________

The clan is bustling with more life than before. The news of the Okkotsu heir have reached wide and Kaa-san had to spend time greeting lost clan mates, at least those who wish to return. It’s a thing that enchants Kaiya to see how his Kaa-san would act as Clan Head. 

The Uchiha, at least both Fugaku and Madara had been driven. Single-minded men that sees only the truth that their sharingan reflects and nothing more. They treat the clan like the reflection of their own will and not the people’s. Fugaku listened to the elders for they support his view that the Uchiha has been isolated. Madara treated the clan like their entire blood would be stained by the village. Neither could see how the general Uchiha, the civilians and the ones at the common road has no qualms in politics and war. As long as they can live, they are content.

Okaa-san treats each new members with a warm smile. Slight quirk of her lips that marks her more of a warm statuette rather than a cold idol. It’s different than her regular smile. Kaa-san always smiles with a higher quirk on the right edges of her lips with an almost visible teeth flashing. It’s the smile she reserves to Kaiya himself.

But Kaa-san as a Clan Head is kind. She treats each new members like they’re long lost family that just came back from travel. Each passing day the Okkotsu clan grows. It makes Kaiya’s dream one step closer, one step more achievable.

But it also pulls his Kaa-san away. Each new member is one tile away from how close they were. It makes something in him bitter. Regardless, it gives him time to spend on researching a way to free Fuji. The Okkotsu library is filled with documented techniques that nobody has even seen. It’s records over records of clan and individual techniques with how to utilise them. A trove that is sacred only for the Okkotsu main family. 

As he took the scroll closest to him and stepped back from the shelves, he can’t help but feel like, this is his legacy. This is who he is. 

In one lifetime Obito laid waste to a clan, enslaved the Juubi and carved crimson rivers across the Elemental Nations. In this life, Okkotsu Kaiya will raise a clan, free Fuji and show the world the legacy of his crimson eyes so none could challenge their power.

He unfurled the scroll on tatami and eyed the latest records of the Zenin techniques. The information is sparse. Not many Okkotsu sorcerers were left to identify and document other clans. But maybe Kaiya can build a basis out of this and the eight trigram seal from Obito’s life.

Kaiya bit his lips. “The summoning of a Shikigami is built on the basis of three; the ritual, the base and the medium.” He could feel Fuji poking in his head with intrigue. “The ritual varies from user to user,” Kaiya frowned at the next line, “suspected to be a clan secret.” 

He pulled the empty book close to him and started writing the information down. It would do good to have all the relevant techniques at hand. He can review them at night when he’s supposed to be asleep.

He kept on reading, letting the lull of cursed energy that passed by him turn into background wind that rustles at the nape of his mind. He’s not sure how long he was in the record room. By the end of it, if not for the knock at the door, he wouldn’t have noticed the bright flare of blue.

“Young Lord.” Kagome’s voice snapped him from the diagram of a rabbit shape Shikigami in the scroll. “The Gojo heir is here as promised.”

‘It’s that late already?’ Kaiya tucked the notebook in his obi and began packing the scrolls and putting them at one side. He opened the door to be greeted by locks of white with sharp blue eyes the colour of the sky.

“Kaiya-chan!” Satoru leaped and pulled him into his chest. 

“Satoru!” His scream was muffled by the taller boy’s clothes. He clenched at the fabric, peering his head and looking up at the boy with a pout. “You shouldn’t do that you know.”

“Eh?” Satoru whine.

Kaiya pushed himself apart and sighed half-heartedly. “You shouldn’t keep pulling people without them saying it’s okay. They’ll get mad.” He pushed passed the boy and closed the door behind him. It won’t do for Satoru to see his clan’s record room. He smiled at Kagome. The teenage girl smiled at them fondly and followed as they made way to the courtyard.

Satoru bounced towards him, hands behind his head. “But I don’t do that to anyone. Just Kaiya-chan~” He grinned. Kaiya sighed but gave him a soft smile. He’s not used to having someone so clearly enamoured and wanting his attention. It makes him feel warm and wanted.

Sure Kaa-san, Kagome and Yusuke-senpai always pays attention to him. They even cared but they’re family, like Obito’s grandmother. Throughout his life as Obito, nobody outside of family had ever preened as his eyes landed on them. Rin enjoyed his company but that’s because they’ve been childhood friends. Kakashi had looked at him with disdain.

Kakashi’s last words still rang in his mind.

But Satoru’s different. He has made it a point to come every day to just fill his time with Kaiya. Even when Kaiya said he wants to practice a technique, Satoru would rather join.

“So, what do you wanna do today?” And that’s a legit question. They spend so much time daily that Kaiya’s surprised that they haven’t ran out of things to do.

“Oh!” Satoru beamed. “There’s a stall at the city today! They’re selling special dangos!”

Kaiya raised a brow. “What makes them special?”

Satoru grinned, leaning closer like he’s about to flip Kaiya’s world upside down. Knowing Satoru, he might. The boy lives for the dramatics. But that’s the things isn’t it? Kaiya’s not blind not to see how Satoru’s been before they hang out. Satoru was always known as the Frozen Heir. The untouched holy statue. He’s so cold and calloused that people steered from him. 

Kaiya’s not going to do that. Satoru’s his equal. He’s just a kid. So Kaiya will treat him like any other person. Because the most important thing is Satoru’s his friend.

“Some people,” And Satoru said that with the most venomous of tone like he’s talking about insipid termites that infested his home, “said that there’s only a few packet of them. And, it’s filled with custards!” He pointed a finger at Kaiya like that’s the main reason they’re going. 

He couldn’t help but snort. He pulled a brow teasingly and smirked. He twisted his face, pulling an expression that screams pitiful and stupid. A face Kakashi pulled well. “Satoru, that sounds like mochi. Can’t you tell the difference between mochi and dango?”

Satoru squawked and flailed his hand in the air. “Kaiya-chan’s so mean! They’re on a stick! Of course they’re dangos!”

Kaiya froze. His shoulders shake and he bit his lips before bursting into a full body laugh. Satoru puffed his cheeks and stomped towards the gates, necks red. “Sa— Satoru!”

“Not funny!”

“Of course it is!” He ran after the boy, laughing to the beat of his steps.

_____________________________________

Hisa leaned over the table, letting the waft of her tea billowed in her nose.

“Hisa-sama?” 

She turned to see her son’s guard by her side, a tray in hand. Her eyes lingered on the scrolls that her son was reading. She brushed over the title written over one and frowned. “The tides are changing Yusuke.” 

Her son’s guard stood tensed with cursed energy that shouts his anxiety. It’s imperceptible to most people. But Hisa has never been like most people. She might not be as good as her son but she can always tell how people feel from their cursed energy. 

Yusuke leaned slightly, looking at the pile of scrolls with a frown. “Is it dangerous Hisa-sama?”

She’s not sure how to answer that. Her son is her gift. Always have been so intelligent and wary. He can be joyful at one end but his eyes linger with a gaze of longing and sorrow. Those ruby eyes would often scope the sky like he’s looking for something imperceptible. 

But there are time where Hisa would catch those eyes glazing, staring at photographs long gone. There are times when he spend time with Satoru, Kaiya would start seeing ghosts. The boy is smart. 

Surely he had noticed.

Hisa has theories, none of them favourable. Even if the thoughts in her mind laid true in the world, Hisa would always protect her precious son.

There are no gifts more valuable to a mother than her child. But how far can she go to protect her Spider Lily. She is just one person and as much as she hates it, her son is more capable to defend himself. But there are shadows creeping in the horizon. There are forces clawing from the ground trying to pull her blessed boy back to whence he came.

That much she’s certain.

“Call Koji for me Yusuke.” She whispered, unfurling a scroll on the Zenin’s shikigami. “I would need his counsel.”

“I shall see whether the Gojo Head is free.“ Yusuke nodded and left with a bow. The bamboo door slid close and Hisa rubbed her temple twice. Maybe her friend could make heads or tail on what to do next.

She glanced to her side where a picture of her son and her partner stood “Ritsuki, what should I do?” 

Chapter Text

‘Are you sure?’

Kaiya ignored the concern lacing Fuji’s voice and went back to carving the sand with his cursed energy. He has everything prepared.

He has the scented candles (milk tea scent because he likes sweet things), the base (white sand because it’s the only area big enough at their compound where it’s not filled with shrubbery or a pond. Why are there so many ponds in their compound?) and the medium (which is his eyes because that way, nobody can tamper with it).

‘This is risky.’

“Everything in life is.” He muttered under his breath. They don’t have the luxury to mull over things. It’s now or never. 

If he keeps it until they’re five years old, things would get suspicious. Shikigami normally manifest young and the Okkotsu, well, they have a thing with the number four.

Four techniques.

Four pieces of petals.

Four because the number means ‘death’ and the Okkotsu, Kaiya especially, is blessed by the Yomi.

So to ensure that nobody would be suspicious, he has to do this before he reaches five and everything aligns today. There’s a full moon tonight and it aligns with the fourth week of the month. Even the curse energy at the compound is thrumming, brimming with life and need and desire.

It’s like the universe is telling him ’it’s time’ and there won’t be another.

Misako’s out shopping with Kaa-san and Yusuke have been on a mission and the servants, they stray from him.

He’s friendly and he’s kind and the clan loves him for that but they’re still traditional enough to stay away unless permitted.

So it’s now or never.

He remembers this method and he remembers it well. He’d used it before and it took him years to figure out how to adapt something from his life as Obito to his life as Kaiya.

All he needs is to focus as much curse energy to the seal on the ground, a swirling pattern with eight point wave, and temper it to the medium, himself.

He doesn’t have the same Rinnegan but it should work, in theory. Only back then he’s sealing the Juubi into him and now he’s expelling Fuji out.

He stands in the middle, putting his hand in a ram sign (left thumb upwards pressed over his right index and middle fingers with all the other fingers curled and folded inwards) and breathed. 

With the first spike of cursed energy dragging through the air, trashing violently, and stifling the air in a rotten scent, he might have made a miscalculation. 

The energy’s malevolent and angry. 

Conjuring up this much cursed energy made it violent and it trashed as if it’s trying to burn his chest. 

Cursed energy is not like Chakra. 

Chakra might flare and flicker but it’s natural. Cursed energy is the amalgamation of all things wrong and it despised to be tamed. Blessings might make it easier to control but also angrier. It’s writhing and coiling. The air turned putrid and Kaiya held his breath because the energy is lashing and it’s trying to drown him.

He should have put a curtain.

‘Too late for that.’

He underestimated his power and the cursed energy required to free Fuji. At this rate he’ll draw the entire clan to the yard.

The dark swirl flickered, swallowed into a vortex in the centre and pinned into a singular red nebulae. He has to focus or the backlash of energy would be chaotic and it’s difficult because both Obito and Kaiya doesn’t have the patience to stand still for long.

Neither Madara nor his tutors can drill that habit out of both lives. They plan, they wait but they’re always moving.

He moulded the energy, pulling it into the vacuum and summoning his clan’s Abyss. 

He can hear the pattering feet of nervous clan mates.

He’s slowly willing, carving, the energy into the shape in his mind. A small rabbit with spiky conch shell and ten elongated thin tails with fingers. Dark spots appeared in his eyes and he tumbled. He would have fallen if not for his firm footing.

He can sense a splattering of blue coming closer.

The wind trashes and the energy flared and he can hears the leaves crackling, burning, with smoke lingering in the air. He sees his mom’s panic expression and Yusuke — when did he get back? — trying hard to breach the massive barricade of energy swirling over him and burning himself  on the outer skirt. He can see Satoru looking in frozen awe and ‘Shit, the energy’s fighting back’ and ‘I’m not strong enough.’

‘You have to stop.’ Fuji snipped. ‘This is bad.’

“I can’t.” He whispered. 

He can’t because the energy around them are drained from everything. They dance and they coalesced and they swirled and they won’t calmly back away and if Kaiya doesn’t complete this properly then the backlash would endanger or kill. 

And he’s miscalculated. Kami-sama. He hasn’t changed hasn’t he. He always underestimate the risk. Always blindly diving into a situation head first.

He’s no longer an idiot, no longer untalented, but he still feels like that brash young genin. He still feels like Obito who rush towards Rin, be it to be crushed or to be —

Rin. Rin. Rin.

And he’s scared and angry and —

Kakashi!

And the next thing he knows, there are two pairs of hands overlapping his. Two pairs of gentle, calloused-ridden hands touching his shoulders and covering the flaws in his palms and they’re holding him firm. They’re a solid ground to his wavering tapestry of self-doubt and rage and grief and they’re saying —

‘Aho-ito.’

‘We’re always with you Obito.’

And they’re looking at him, smiling with warm eyes and confidence and they’re saying ‘Together. One last time.’

“Innate Technique: Juubi.”

And the red flashed and it splits into threads of red, purple and silver and the colours triumphed over black and suddenly he’s no longer the brash genin.

Suddenly his mask is cracked and he stood in front of the goddess, pierced and crumbling, and he’s awake. He’s with Kakashi but it feels like Rin’s in the middle dragging both of them, acting like the glue she always does and — 

“Kaiya.” Fuji’s voice is no longer in his mind.

_____________________________________

Satoru has mastered Blue. 

Blue is simple, it is to implicate space into a singular point and pulls the world, command and wills it to bend to his whim and it’s majestic and deadly and it ensure the world collapsed into itself.

A beauty of coalescing negative energy.

But he’s having a trouble with Red.

It’s not difficult, no.

Red is a technique that should be simple because it’s Satoru doing it. The fault lies in his tutors and the records. Over four hundred years of faulty records and the shred of document says Red is incomprehensible.

Written in chicken scratch and illegible handwriting that gave him a headache and ‘Who made you the record keeper?’ and ‘What does that mean?’

And his tutors are idiots, incompetent and he should fire them or kill them and surely, relieving them of their miserable life is a mercy for who would hire anyone who’s been fired by the Gojo clan.

It’s a social execution.

It’s akin to living with no means to make a living. Because the Gojo clan is mighty and prominent and surely it means that if they’re removed then killing them is a mercy.

Ah but he doesn’t no matter how much he wants because then the Elders will have him on a leash and that’s troublesome.

But that’s not all.

It’s mainly because Kaiya-chan doesn’t like it.

Kaiya-chan is funny and intriguing. A walking breathing paradox and a contradiction to Satoru’s being in every way.

He has midnight ink black hair over Satoru’s heavenly white. He has bloodstained shining rubies over Satoru’s glistening sapphires. His technique, though the idiots would call it copy is so much more.

It’s Abyss to the Gojo’s Limitless. Similar but different.

Because Limitless expands space and multiply them to infinity in the most minuscule of percentage. 

Abyss is like it’s name. 

Satoru spends so much time with Kaiya-chan that he has an understanding of it.

The Elders fear him and his technique, similar to how they fear Satoru’s.

But they can’t kill Kaiya-chan. 

Not by themselves because that would bring divine retribution unto themselves, and they’re cowards, so they hire assassins and contract killers and Satoru knows. Like he knows none have touched him.

The technique belonging to the Okkotsu is perfectly embodied by that one line Satoru has read in the records.

A surviving record of the Okkotsu’s that’s hidden and shelved in his father’s room because the clans destroyed them when the Okkotsu fell from prominence and surely if Kaiya-chan wasn’t born then that too would have been thrown into the flames for the sake of forging and preserving a new tradition. He wonders why his cowardly Tou-san would go to such lengths to preserve any record of the Okkotsu clan.

When you stare at the abyss, the abyss stares back.

Where the Gojo utilise the concept of push and pull, attract and repel, the Okkotsu utilises absorb and reflect.

It sounds similar but in it’s crux it isn’t because Limitless affects space and Abyss affects energy.

Absorb the energy surrounding you and reflect them back. Call forth the world to your fingertips and make them bow with the smallest of twitch in your eyes.

It’s a mirror.

The Okkotsu mirrors the Gojo.

The Gojo is chosen by the heavens.

The Okkotsu is chosen by hell.

Where Satoru sits and watch from the abode of the gods, Kaiya-chan likes to mingle and dwell amongst the mortals and see them with his own senses. 

Satoru views them as insects to be governed and ignored, and Kaiya-chan views them as insects to be treasured and cultivated.

Where the Gojo repels, they reflects, and where the Gojo attracts, they absorbs.

And that’s what Okkotsu Kaiya did when they first met. 

Susanoo.

The banished god.

It doesn’t seal the cursed energy. No. It’s the ability to focus the Okkotsu’s technique into one singular point and reflects the opponent’s own, dispelling them into oblivion for a set amount of time. The fact that Satoru’s own energy was dispelled, even for a second, only proves the magnificence, the greatness and the ingenious capability of one Okkotsu Kaiya.

And it’s befitting.

Who else can sit upon the thrones on equal footing with him?

None but Kaiya-chan.

So he’ll indulge Kaiya-chan and his tsundere tendencies because Kaiya-chan’s cute that way. He doesn’t have to work hard to get him to see Kaiya-chan.

Satoru already acknowledges him.

Maybe one day he’ll return Kaiya-chan’s feelings.

‘Ah, to enjoy mortal frivolousness.’ Satoru smiles to himself. He’s a god amongst men and surely, to tie a bond with Kaiya-chan is not forbidden because he too is a god amongst men. And gods should mingle with gods, no?

Maybe he’ll ask Kaiya-chan if he can help him with Red? So that’s what he did when he skips to Kaiya-chan’s house. 

He could already see the thrumming red in the sky that Kaiya-chan contains so it doesn’t harm his beloved pets. 

Cute.

But then, the unimaginable happen. A surge of positive interaction; an absorption on a massive scale that strikes the heavens, toiled the lands and pulled them into one singular spot. It beckons and it churns all the surrounding cursed energy and siphons and refines them from black to red and —

‘Kaiya-chan’s doing something fun!’

So he ran and he rushes and he stops at the yard where Kaiya-chan stands with billowing black hair, determined red eyes and — a summoning ritual? 

A shikigami?

Isn’t that the Zenin’s technique?

Is Kaiya-chan replicating it?

Oh, how the Zenin will grow enraged because as much as they allow the Okkotsu to copy techniques, none have managed to copy those of the Big Three Clans.

‘Well, Big Four now but semantics because if Kaiya-chan can do this, might as well kick the Zenin out.’

 And Satoru stands in awe because the amalgamation of this much cursed energy means one thing: A Special Grade Shikigami. 

The likes that have never been seen because even the Zenin’s have to cultivate theirs to reach that point and Kaiya-chan’s summoning a newborn with that grade.

‘He’s a monster.’ Satoru thrills. ‘A monster and he’s amazing.’

Perhaps down the line Satoru will look back and say, this is the point of no return. This is where he’s fallen into the abyss.

Kaiya-chan succeeded, the energy fractured and split into three shades (mortal, heaven and hell) and the Shikigami spoke.  Kaiya-chan held it tight and cried.

Satoru runs and about to cheer but then he hears Kaiya-chan’s voice and something in him seethes.

“Thank you, Kakashi, Rin.”

Chapter Text

There’s many thing Satoru’s sure of.

He’s the strongest.

He’s blessed.

He’s a god amongst men and —

Kaiya-chan’s his equal. His partner. His best friend.

But then, Satoru hears those words, spoken in such a reverent tone, and Satoru’s not so sure.

Kaiya-chan always have that look in his eyes whenever he looks at him. Kaiya-chan must know Satoru notices because their eyes are similar. 

Different blessings but similar function.

Sometimes Kaiya-chan has a faraway look when they’re together and at those times Kaiya-chan’s not looking at him. He’s looking at a tattered piece of photograph like he’s looking at a long lost love, a cherished mistake, and what could have been, all at once.

But that can’t be. 

Because they’re only four going five and they don’t have the experience to change snapshots of memories into photographs.

Not of regret at least.

So Satoru, for the first time in his life doesn’t feel like the strongest. He feels mortal and he’s uncertain. He’s not sure why these feeling are interwoven with Kaiya-chan.

_____________________________________

The first time he noticed, they were sitting at the pond in the Gojo compound.

The servants are mulling, whispering and keeping their distance because they’re used to fearing him. But knowing that the Okkotsu heir and the Gojo heir are bonding; Satoru can taste the dread in his tongue.

It’s sweet.

But Satoru ignores them, and he’s dragging Kaiya-chan to the pond so he can show what cool things he can do with Blue.

His mood was elevated and he’s thrumming with eager expectation because Kaiya-chan’s holding his hand and laughing at his childishness. It’s not often that Satoru can act childish.

The servants are idiots and Father’s waiting to be banished for being a coward upon Satoru’s coming of age. But Kaiya-chan’s his equal and he agreed to play with Satoru.

That in itself is a privilege.

Satoru’s guarded amongst these mortals but with Kaiya-chan he doesn’t have to.

Just from his spiked cursed energy, Kaiya-chan’s his equal in every way. So with who else can Satoru opened up himself other than with Kaiya-chan?

It’s nice to be whatever he wants with Kaiya-chan.

“Ne, Kaiya-chan~” Satoru drawled. “Wanna see something pretty?”

Kaiya-chan tilted his head but nod with a soft smile. He likes that smile. He dragged him to the pond, kneeling against the rim. He pat the space next to him and grinned.

“Sit.”

“What are we doing Satoru?” He can’t help but preen at the way Kaiya-chan says his name. The words come up in that high pitched voice that children have but still so soft that it rolls down his tongue. His name on Kaiya-chan’s tongue sounds so sweet. Like the Kikufuku that he dearly treasured. It’s soft and sweet and melts in your mouth.

“I’m going to show you something amazing.” Satoru sniffed. He placed his hand on the surface of the water, wrapping his curse energy to a singular point. Coiling and coiling, the water answered his call. Coiling and coiling, it dances and rises and wraps around the centre until it’s spinning into a ball. 

Blue.

Blue like his own eyes and the skies that graced the heavens. 

That’s the colour in his hands. 

A sign that as the blessed one, he holds the heavens in his palm and he showed it to his equal. There’s stars in Kaiya-chan’s eyes. It glimmers and dazzles. Satoru preens because this is how it should be. This is how Kaiya-chan should view him. Like an equal that no other can compare. Like the magnificence that he’s meant to be.

His mouth slightly gaping with awe and Kaiya-chan turned to him and the awe fades.

Just for a moment there’s a crack in his eyes.

For a moment, he’s not looking at Satoru but another.

There’s another person in his place with hands that holds the skies and Satoru’s blue eyes.

There’s another person in his place that drapes the image of Satoru’s magnificence but Kaiya-chan’s looking with longing, regret and pain.

And Satoru bristles. 

He scowls and the energy in his hands blaze and they twist and claw and churn and ‘look at me and only me’.

The energy coiled, writhing in a storm of anger, rage and pain that it demands the grace of the underworld. The energy coiled and it reflects Satoru’s heart because Kaiya-chan should only look at him and only him at every moment and every time when he’s with him.

Aren’t they equals?

Is Satoru not worth his entire devotion?

The energy coiled and crackled and it bursts. The two boys yelped and fell to the outer rim of the pond.

Satoru scowled. 

Such an embarrassing display of incompetence. How else will Satoru show to Kaiya-chan that his devotion is not misplaced? How can Satoru be an equal when he can’t retain even that sliver of control?

Water drips down his face but the skies are clear. Rivers flowed down his cheeks but there’s no mountains.

“Satoru?” Blue eyes meet red and he wondered ‘When did Kaiya-chan get so close?’. There’s a soft smile on his face and those red moon turned into crescent shaped. They twinkle in delight and fondness. There’s a touch on his skin, soft and warms and it feels like clouds wiping against the rain on his face. “Don’t cry Satoru. You were amazing.”

He leaned into the touch, lips wide, and says. “I’m amazing.”

Kaiya-chan nodded and Satoru thinks ‘He’s so soft’.

_____________________________________

The second time he noticed it, they were spending their weekend together like promised.

Kaiya-chan was at the table, mixing what Satoru thinks is flour.

He didn’t pay attention.

He was too busy glaring at the worm standing next to Kaiya-chan. The worm poked his slimy disgusting fingers into the bowl and swiped a lick into his slimy mouth.

“Yusuke-senpai.” Kaiya-chan pouted. He looked like a squirrel. “Stop trying to eat the batter. You’ll get a stomach ache.”

“That’s not true.” The worm grinned, taking another swipe of Kaiya-chan’s delicious homemade batter. “It’s what adults tell children so they can have it all to themselves.”

Kaiya-chan gave him an incredulous look. “Is that true?”

The worm dared to give a sly smirk to Kaiya-chan with his fingers in his lips. Such lewd act. Satoru knows because he has access to Shoujo mangas. Because ancient texts are boring and his teachers are idiot. Plus, Shoujo mangas are funny.

So he knows what the worm is doing. Kaiya-chan’s innocent so he doesn’t know. He thinks the worm is just trying to have a taste of Kaiya-chan’s tasty food. No. From the way he’s looking at Satoru, then grinning at Kaiya-chan.

‘Surely, this is flirting.’

The table cracked underneath his grip and Kaiya-chan looked at him with worry. “You hungry Satoru?”

Satoru scowled, eyes still at the worm who have the gall to be grinning at him. 

Oh, if he wasn’t favoured by Kaiya-chan Satoru would have buried him. Or just obliterated him without a speck of dust. He doesn’t deserve the honour of a burial.

He seethes.

“Here.” Kaiya-chan placed a small packet in front of him and he paused. 

Look at what that worm did? He distracted Satoru so much that Satoru lose track of what Kaiya-chan is doing. 

He glanced at the small item in green wrapping. He gingerly lift it up and eyed it like the marvel it is. 

“It’s melon candy.” Kaiya-chan smiled. “I have more until we’re done.” Kaiya-chan dug into the pocket of his robes and pulled out an assortment of colourful sweets.

Ah, truly an angel.

“Kaiya-chan’s so sweet!” Satoru leaped at him, aiming for a hug.

“Satoru, no! The bowl!”

Satoru supposed the worm gets to live another day. If only because he managed to salvage the bowl from dropping on the floor. It would have been a waste of heaven’s blessing.

They poured the batter into a tin of moulds and crouched in front of the oven. The buzzing of the oven, the heat pooling against the glass and the smell of vanilla.

What can’t Kaiya-chan do?

“I’ll leave you for now Kaiya-sama. Call me when it’s done.” Satoru growled at the blatant use of Kaiya-chan’s first name. Only Satoru get the honour. And maybe Hisa-obasan. But that’s because Hisa-obasan is sweet and Kaiya-chan’s mom. 

“Hai.” Kaiya-chan waved him off with eyes still stuck to the oven. The worm snickered and left. He’s really pushing Satoru’s buttons.

They waited and waited and it that moment, Satoru’s reminded of all the scenes he’ve read. Where the protagonist and their tsundere rival would bake sweets and they would play around and get covered in flour.

He internally whined.

He had missed his chance to throw flour at Kaiya-chan. He would have looked like an avenging angel, covered in snow. A Yuki Onna with red eyes. It’s such a shame that he was distracted by Kaiya-chan’s voice and the annoying worm.

But when the cupcake’s done, surely they would decorate and Satoru gets another shot to his Shoujo manga moment.

He patted himself mentally. That would do. They’ll decorate the cupcakes and Satoru would throw sprinkles at Kaiya-chan and he’ll get some stuck in his hair. In a dazzling moment he would pick the sprinkles out and say ‘You look sweet. Let me have a taste.’ Then they will be a doki doki moment between them and Kaiya-chan will be flustered because that’s how those scenes always goes. He doesn’t know what happened next because the next volume isn’t out yet.

“You okay, Satoru?”

Satoru turned to him quickly, slapping his cheeks. “Yeah.”

Kaiya-chan’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. “You look red.”

He laughed, trying to play it cool. “It’s the heat. Just the heat.”

Kaiya-chan beamed. “You really like sweets huh Satoru?”

“Sweet’s the best. I don’t like sour things. Or bitter things.” He stuck his tongue out in disgust. 

He can tolerate vegetables but some is just bad. But then, when Kaiya-chan made them, they’re nice so surely it’s his cooks who are awful. He should fire them. Then he can drag Kaiya-chan to live with him and he can cook for Satoru and they can play all the time. He leaned his head against his hand in a dreamy sigh. 

“The only good thing in this life is sweets.” Satoru paused before tacking. “And Kaiya-chan!”

“You’re so different.” Kaiya-chan shook his head and froze. But it’s too late. 

He misspoke. 

He’s with Satoru but he’s thinking of someone else. He’s seeing Satoru but he’s comparing Satoru to another.

“Who?” He asked with a smile too strained and stiff to be genuine.

“Nobody.” That was too quick not to be a lie and Kaiya-chan must have realised his error. “It’s nobody important.” Kaiya-chan’s looking at the cupcakes wistfully. 

‘Then why do you look so sad?’

They sat in silence. 

Satoru couldn’t help but glance at Kaiya-chan. His friend kept glancing at him and when he caught Satoru looking back, he turned red. It would have been cute because a red Kaiya-chan is always cute. It would have been the perfect Shoujo manga moment. Unfortunately, every time those ruby eyes caught him, they’re not looking at him but right pass him.

Those red eyes are staring at him and it’s seeing something long forgotten. A ghost. A remnant. A memory. And Satoru just wanted Kaiya-chan to just see him all the time.

Is that too much to ask?

It wasn’t long that the cupcakes are done and pulled out of the oven by the worm. Satoru doesn’t have the energy to care. Kaiya-chan’s words are all that he could remember.

‘Who are you looking at when you look at me?’

‘I thought we were equals?’

‘Am I not enough?’

He went through the motion with questions in his head. A mystery to uncover and a puzzle to behold. He doesn’t feel any spark as he dipped the cupcake in chocolate. He doesn’t focus on the colours raining down on the top. And when he took a bite, sinking his teeth into what’s most likely heavenly and soft, because all of Kaiya-chan’s cooking is amazing, it tasted like sand.

He doesn’t get why he’s feeling this way. 

He really doesn’t.

Why does it matter that Kaiya-chan’s not seeing him?

Doesn’t it only matter that Kaiya-chan’s with him now?

Doesn’t it only matter that whoever it was, they’re long gone? They’re gone and they left and Satoru’s in their place because Satoru’s better so he’ll stay and those bastards left so they must be horrible.

He could see the worried glanced exchanged between Kaiya-chan and his guard. He noticed the nudging for Kaiya-chan to act but it’s like he’s drowning. There’s cotton in his ears and water in his lungs and he can feel his heart beating.

He’s drowning in the ocean of something and the only light he could see is Kaiya-chan but the light is fading.

He’s not sure when he was wrapped in the shorter male. He’s not sure when those arms held him close. He could feel his breath brushing against the ring of his ears. He knows he’s moving his hands, and he knows he’s wrapping him tight but…

He’s numb.

He doesn’t know why.

“I’m sorry Satoru.” Kaiya-chan whispered softly into the crook of his neck. “Give me time.”

They pulled apart gently, ever so slowly, and Satoru wishes he could linger in those warm embrace for long. 

His father doesn’t act that way and he’s not sure if his mother would. He’s the Gojo heir, the god amongst men, but he’s sitting atop alone on a pedestal the others have carved.

If Kaiya-chan doesn’t share his throne, then Satoru would truly be alone.

He went home with a box of leftover cupcakes. His servants avoid him, sensing the flicker of anger, sadness and loneliness he’s emitting.

It’s fine. 

They should fear him.

It’s as it should be.

But he feels alone.

It’s fine.

He’ll make Kaiya-chan notice him. He’ll make sure they stand at the top together.

He unpacked the wrapping and took out a cake. He swallowed, gently brushing against the coarse outer crust. It’s tough, but Satoru’s strong. With just a tad pinch, the crust crumbles and breaks and the inside is soft.

This will be like Kaiya-chan.

It will be tough, but there’s nothing Satoru can’t conquer.

And when he gets what he wants, victory will be as sweet as the cake in his mouth.

‘It still tasted like sand.’

_____________________________________

The third time it happened, Satoru was hanging out with Kaiya-chan and Hisa-obasan.

Satoru like Hisa-obasan. She’s kind, sweet and she looks at Satoru like she looks at Kaiya-chan. With pure fondness and joy. Except her gaze is more at Kaiya-chan and that’s fine because that’s how it should be.

But that’s just the minimum.

The best thing bout Hisa-obasan is that she gave birth to Satoru’s best friend. And for that, Satoru will always be grateful.

Kaiya-chan was doing a silly little dance, wiggling his butt as he’s walking backwards in front of Hisa-obasan.  Kaiya-chan always acts so childish with others but the moment he sees Satoru he would put on a mature front.

‘It’s cute.’

“Kaiya-chan! Hisa-obasan!” Satoru giggled at how Kaiya-chan quickly readjusted himself and stood with pink cheeks.

“Satoru.” Hisa-obasan bowed before giving him a warm smile. “Are you joining us?” She turned to Kaiya-chan who has taken it upon himself to cling onto her skirt and shuffling his feet against the dirt. No doubt he’s embarrassed to get caught in the act.

“Hai, Hisa-obasan!” Satoru beamed. He skipped to their side, grinning brightly at Kaiya-chan. “Ne, Kaiya-chan…” Kaiya-chan glared. Satoru turned, lifting his butt in the air and wiggling them just like Kaiya-chan did. “It’s cute, ne?”

He fumed, face burning the same shade as his eyes. His fingers dug at Hisa-obasan’s wrist and he pulled. “Let’s leave him Kaa-san. He’s rude.”

Satoru laughed at the fond look he got from Hisa-obasan. 

“You shouldn’t say that about your friend my Spider Lily.” 

Kaiya-chan scowled and pointed at Satoru. “He started it.”

“Maybe you should learn to be more proper in public.”

He stomped his feet in retaliation and crossed his arms. His eyes lingered at his mother before sighing and wagging a finger. “That’s because I’m a kid. And kids should act immature and enjoy their youth!”

“Yeah!” Satoru beamed at his side.

“Hai, Hai.” Hisa-obasan chuckled.

They went to town to get some stuff. It’s rare for Satoru to go to town. He has servants for that. But Kaiya-chan likes to see things. There’s a shine in his eyes like everything he sees is novel and amazing. 

Satoru thinks it’s adorable.

He finds that going to town is enjoyable too. If only because it’s more fun with the Okkotsu pair. They went from one place to another, just to get some groceries and they went back with two bags full of candy and a packet of grilled sweet potatoes lathered in salted butter and Satoru’s in heaven.

They made it back to the compound and Satoru thought that was it. Then he notices the slight tinge of question in Hisa-obasan’s eyes and Kaiya-chan’s puffed out cheeks and he wonders, are they continuing their day?

Kaiya-chan turned to him and tilt his head slightly. “Can you keep a secret?” Satoru raised a brow because that’s stupid. Of course Satoru can keep a secret. “Kaa-san’s going to go somewhere only the two of us knows, and she’s wondering if you wanna come?”

If it’s possible for him to feel like he’s passed on and truly be convinced he’s in heaven, this is it. They wanted him to join them to a special place where only they know. A special place where Satoru gets to share with Kaiya-chan and Hisa-obasan. 

Of course he’s going to say; “Yes!”

Satoru walked next to Kaiya-chan as they followed the Okkotsu matriarch to the back of the compound. There were nothing but boulders covered in vines and wilted flowers. For a moment, Satoru entertained the idea that he’s gonna get killed but then he shook it off. Kaiya-chan’s too nice for that.

“Stand back.” Hisa-obasan raised a hand in front of them. She walked to one of the boulder and prick her finger on one of the flowers. 

Satoru can see the blood dripping for the open wound, spilling on the brown stem and imbuing it with cursed energy. The ground rumbled and the boulder shifted into a rectangular shape that’s leading down a narrow alley.

He doesn’t need his eyes to know what’s on the other side. The scent of flowers danced in the air and tickles his nose.

Hisa-obasan went it without waiting and Kaiya-chan nudged him to follow. The narrow path was short and the time it took to pass from the outside to their destination is brief. What made Satoru gasped is the beauty of the place. An oasis of flowers hidden behind barren rocks and dead leaves. It’s like the world had chosen to carve the inside of boulder, pave it flat, and sing for flowers to bloom around them.

Hisa-obasan placed their stuff on the grass in the centre and took a sat. Kaiya-chan followed her lead. 

“Come on Satoru. Stop gawking.” 

Satoru scowled. He found that he’s been making a habit to skip after Kaiya-chan and he doesn’t mind.

“What is this place?” He asked as he took a seat next to Kaiya-chan. His friend was rummaging through his plastic, pulling out two bottles of strawberry Ramune. 

He turned to Satoru, mulling it before passing him a bottle. Satoru gracefully accepted the drink, awaiting the response. “It’s the Okkotsu garden.”

Hisa-obasan smiled and passed them their grilled sweet potatoes. She shook her head fondly, finding the answer amusing. “It’s a secret garden only held by the leader of the Okkotsu clan. There’s a story to this place.”

“What kind?” Satoru popped open the soda and giving it a sniff.

“It’s said that the first Okkotsu came from this garden. Right here.” She patted the grass underneath them. “They rose from the underworld and formed from bone to flesh.” Hisa-obasan took a bite of her potato, steam still curling, and gave Satoru a soft grin. “Or so we’re told.”

She and Kaiya-chan has that same way of grinning elegantly. There’s a slight tilt on the corner of their lips and just a fraction of their canine visible from the dent to the bottom lip. But Kaiya-chan likes to do that in formal boring stuff. Most of the time, Kaiya-chan’s face seemed to reflect his emotions plainly for all to see.

“It sounds silly.” Satoru took the answer for what it is. Even with the presence of jujutsu and curses, it sounds stupid to believe that some clan comes from the underworld. Heaven’s blessing and Hell’s blessing is believable. But coming from them? That sounds like old scary stories that dying grampas like to tell to still feel special and show ‘wisdom’. 

Kaiya-chan disagreed. He made this known by slapping his arm. “Don’t be like that. It might be true. Just look at the flowers.”

There is an abundance of flowers yeah, but the most prominent ones are spider lilies. The flowers are clustered at the edges, forming a border of sort around the hidden garden. 

“Isn’t that your clan’s symbol?” Satoru looked at his own grilled sweet potato and sunk his teeth, relishing in the soft warm burst in between his teeth and gums. The smokey soft taste and the sweet meld really well. And the butter makes it extra creamy.

Hisa-obasan chuckled. “More than that. Spider lilies mean forgotten memories and good byes. The texts say our founder planted them when they rose from Yomi.”

“You must be really good at Hanakotoba Hisa-obasan.” Satoru grinned and wiped the stain on on his cheeks.

“I know my basics. Someone else is an expert.” Hisa-obasan turned to Kaiya-chan and there’s a flicker of sadness and recognition in her eyes. 

Kaiya-chan’s looking at the flowers like there’s something more. 

He’s looking at them like he’s looking up at the beauty of the red petals and he’s aware of how soft it is. He’s yearning just for a touch but he’s wrapped and bound in thick green vines with thorns pricking into his skin and flesh. He’s longing but he’s in pain.

But to Kaiya-chan, something about that beauty must be worth the pain.

Satoru feels the same way when he’s looking at the current Kaiya-chan.

Whenever Kaiya-chan have that faraway look, it pains him. It pains him but Satoru still can’t look away. 

It’s deadly. 

It’s poison. 

It sting’s in his chest and entraps him and makes him want to burn all the things that makes his friend sad but —

He’s still enthralled.

“It means never to meet again.” Kaiya-chan muttered softly. There are unshed tears in those ruby eyes. “An eternal good bye full of regrets because you can’t see them again.” He turned to his own food and his expression softened. “It’s painful because you know where they are but you can never see them. You can’t cross that place and even if you open the door, they’re no longer there.”

Satoru thinks he gets how that feels. 

In these moments when Kaiya-chan’s eyes are glazed and fractured and staring into old moving scenes — He knows how that feels.

But Satoru still spends more time with Kaiya-chan because he’s Satoru’s best friend and they’re equals.

But it still hurts because — doesn’t he feel the same?

Chapter Text

Kaa-san fussed over him. Checking him limb to limb and honestly, she’s overreacting. 

He’s only slightly burned and he’s already healing. Fuji won’t let him get hurt if he can help it and he knows this. 

He trusts Fuji.

But that doesn’t mean he likes looking at the disapproving glare given by her. Satoru’s at the foot of his bed and he’s glaring at the beast in his arms before turning to the walls. Yusuke and Kagome did not look impressed and Kaiya feels cornered.

Yeah, he miscalculated but it worked out didn’t it?

“What you did was reckless.” Kaiya folded into himself, holding Fuji tighter. The beast gave a chocked whimper. “You should have waited until Yusuke or I was there. If anything happened, we could have protected you.”

“Sorry Kaa-san.” He mumbled. 

He turned to Satoru and his friend is not even looking him in the eyes. Kaiya can’t blame him. Satoru has the same blessing as him. Surely he must have heard what he said before he collapsed in the field.

Satoru, as arrogant and brash, is still a child. And he’s possessive. 

Kaiya gets it. 

Obito didn’t have that many friends. He was an orphan who lived with his grandmother. And then there’s Rin and he grew attached and they bonded. Eventually he fell for her before — he doesn’t want to go there.

Satoru might act strong. He might deemed himself as above everyone. But Satoru forgets that he’s a kid. Their blessings are otherworldly but they’re still young. Still unable to process their emotions properly. And Kaiya might think he has the advantage because he was Obito but things don’t work that way. 

You get reborn and you start over and your emotions, your feelings and everything resets. You feel again and more because you might know how to handle emotions, might remember the pain, but your body, your child body, is still learning. It’s still adapting.

So he gets it. He’s been a bad friend. And to Satoru, he’s his only friend. He’s seen how the others act around Satoru. He can feel the malice and anger and venom directed at the child. He’s lucky to be in the Okkotsu clan but, if he was in Satoru’s place he would have lost it.

‘If he was Obito, he would have paint the compound red.’

But Satoru’s stronger than him.

He’s so caught up with his past that he can remember clearly how often he’s looking at Satoru but not. He remembers clearly how many times he’s with Satoru but all he can remember is Kakashi, Rin, Minato-sensei and —

’Idiot Uchiha.’

“Yusuke, Kagome, leave us.” They bowed and do as told. Yusuke gave him a worried glance but Kagome looked pissed. 

“I’m leaving.” Satoru announced. 

“Satoru.” His friend ignored him, making a fast pace out his room and something in Kaiya breaks. 

With each step Satoru takes, there’s a crack between them. With each step Satoru takes, there’s a ravine opening up and hands coiling from below. They’re coiling up, reaching for and grabbing his heart. Satoru gave one last look, one last glance with blue eyes that can freeze his heart and Kaiya thinks ‘I’ve taken you for granted’.

Kaa-san frowned. 

There’s pity in her eyes before it glazed over and she turned to him and the curtains have lifted and he can see the worry, dread and ‘why did you do something like that’.

They stayed in silence, with Obito squirming and Kaa-san staring him down. All of his mistakes, all of his actions as Obito and as Kaiya lingered at the forefront of his mind.

He’s drowning in his mistakes and he just wants someone to pull him out. The silence is heavy and he wants someone to cut it. 

Don’t look at him like that.

Don’t look at him as if he was still Obito. Brash, impulsive and walls and walls of concrete surrounding his heart. Walls so tall and wide with wires that will burn you if you try to come close.

It’s deafening and he wishes he can hear one more ‘Kaiya-chan’.

“I’m upset.” Kaiya squirmed and Fuji whimpered at his distress in his arms. “I’m not upset that you did this, no.” Kaiya’s eyes slowly drifted to meet his mother’s black and he’s not going to cry. “I’m upset because I’m your mother. You think I can’t see your pain and sorrow but I know you.”

Kaa-san lifted her hand to brush against his cheek. “Tell me what’s wrong. There’s something you’re keeping and it’s drowning you my Spider Lily.”

Kaiya can’t help but clenched his eyes. He could hear the resigned sigh escaping his mother’s lips. 

How can he tell her the truth? How can he tell her that he’s seeing ghosts of the past? That this is his own doing? That he have cause untold atrocities in the past and he’s racked up Karma and this is his second chance.

What if she doesn’t believe him?

What if she does?

What if she hates him?

Her warm touch slipped and he can’t help but flinched from the cold. “At least tell Satoru.” Kaa-san whispered. “He doesn’t understand what you’re feeling. It’s not fair to him.”

There’s a slight shuffling against the floor of his bedroom and the door cracked opened.

“Don’t keep looking at old photographs, my son. Or else you’ll miss the chance to make new ones.”

He nodded with eyes still shut tight like steel shutters that’s locked and afraid to let others in.

He’s a coward.

_____________________________________

Satoru pressed and pressed, forcing more cursed energy into his palm.

He saw what Kaiya-chan did. He can surely replicate it.

He’s the strongest. He’s his equal.

‘He’s my best friend.’

The red ball snapped and blew up in his face and he hissed, holding his wrist. “Stupid Satoru.” There’s a knock on his door and he growled.

“What?” He barked.

“G-Gojo-sama.” The servant’s clearly terrified and that’s good. He’s not in the mood. Not after today. Not after what he saw, what he heard. “You have a guest.”

“Tell them to drop dead.”

There’s silence and he knows the servant has not move to tell his guest that. Who’s stupid enough to come visit him late at night?

“Even if it’s me?” 

Satoru breathed. He jumped from his bed and ran to the door. He hid his hand behind his back and readied himself. “Come in, Okkotsu-san.” 

And yeah, even he can hear the wince from the other side. But Kaiya-chan deserves it. Satoru’s always there. Satoru’s always around. So why is it so hard for Kaiya-chan to see him?

The door opened and the servant bowed at them before leaving.

Kaiya-chan’s dressed in his purple pyjamas, hands behind his back. That’s not unusual. What’s unusual is the giant sunflower that’s facing him peeking behind his head. Kaiya-chan’s short and the flower’s awkwardly peeking from behind him.

His friend looked upset but Satoru can’t bring himself to console him. Not when Kaiya-chan kept hurting him. 

They’re friends so why?

There’s three steps between them. There’s three child-sized steps between them and a line that separates the outside from the in. From Satoru’s heart to his indifference and what happens next could determine whether he would lock Kaiya-chan out or pull him in.

“I’m sorry, Satoru.” He muttered, stealing glances at him. Satoru scowled. He doesn’t want an apology. He wants to know. 

That’s his name isn’t it? To know. And Satoru always wants to know. And he’s been patient, he gave Kaiya-chan time but — He feels like Kaiya-chan’s taking him for granted.

He can’t say sorry and then do this again. He can’t. 

Satoru can’t take this again.

“I’m not good with words.” Satoru looked at him unimpressed. “I’m not… And I haven’t been fair but I hope, this can mean something to you. I hope you know what this means.”

There’s flowers in his face and the smell of fresh dew in his nose. There’s flowers in his face and he can make out ten roses, five white and five red, and a large sunflower wrapped neatly in a bouquet.

“I mean, if you don’t get it, I can explain but — I’m not good with words. But I’ll try.” Kaiya-chan sounded broken and Satoru’s resolve is crumbling. “I can’t lose my friend.”

His fingers move, whether by his own volition or not is immaterial. They move and they’re stroking the edges of the flowers like it’s a treasure. He’s patting the flowers like it’s a relic lost and found and there’s nothing that can replace them.

‘How is it so easy for you to make me feel like this?’

He opened his mouth, closed it, then open it again. “Wha—What do they mean?”

Kaiya-chan bit the inside of his cheeks and there’s a slight blush on his face. He’s looking at his hands, playing with his thumbs. 

“White and red roses together means us. It means together, as equals. Just us. Ten roses means you’re perfect the way you are.” Ruby eyes meet blue and Satoru thinks Kaiya-chan doesn’t realise how deep those words are. “And the sunflower means…” He bit his lower lips and red crept all the way to his neck. “It means I adore you Satoru. It means, I’m looking at you now and only you. So…” He took a sharp breath. “Forgive me Satoru?”

Satoru bit his lips. He looked at the flowers and they smell wet like grass and they’re useless but they mean a lot. And Satoru, he doesn’t want to get hurt. He doesn’t want to. 

But this is Kaiya-chan.

His equal.

His best friend.

His —

“Okay…” He whispered, moving to the side. “Come in Kaiya-chan.”

He expected a slow march into his space or even bawling tears. What he didn’t expect is Kaiya-chan flushed against his chest with hands tightly coiled around his neck.

“I’m sorry Satoru.” He sobbed, rubbing his nose against the nook of his neck. “I’m looking at you now.”

“You’re a crybaby Kaiya-chan” Satoru nuzzled into the shorter boy’s hair and hugged him back.

_____________________________________

They’re sitting on his bed, and there’s no space in between.

They’re sitting on the bed and he crossed the line between them.

They’re sitting on the bed, leaning on his friend’s shoulder and enjoying the slight humming Satoru’s making as he softly pat the flowers in his hands.

“You don’t have to tell me everything.” Satoru whispered, absently straightening the already wilting petals and pulsing his energy in an attempt to keep it fresh. “Just help me understand.”

Kaiya nuzzled closer, burying his head deeper into Satoru’s warm neck before giving a slight nod. “Okay.” He can feel the eyes over his head. “Just don’t hate me. Please.”

An arm wrapped around him, pulling him close. “I can never hate you.”

Kaiya opened his lips, close it, before giving it a slight pull with his teeth and huffed. “I died once.” He can feel Satoru stiffening. He placed a hand over Satoru’s arm and gave it light tap, hoping to assuage him and telling him that it’s okay. “I wasn’t always Okkotsu Kaiya. I was Uchiha Obito a lifetime ago.”

“How long?” Satoru asked, a clear strain in his voice.

“I don’t know…” Kaiya frowned. “I’ve always thought it was a different world but I’m beginning to think that it’s before the age of jujutsu. Everything’s so different but still the same. There’s too much similarities. It can’t be a different world can it?”

He paused. 

He’s half expecting for Satoru to push him. Maybe call him a liar. But he feels stupid. They’re both blessed. And one of those blessings is that they can tell when someone’s lying, even if they believe it to be true.

Satoru nodded and Kaiya took that as a sign to continue. “I wasn’t a nice person. I was stupid and selfish. I killed, manipulated and then I died.” It’s an understatement. A severe understatement of his sins but he can’t face the truth yet. He can’t open that box yet. He’s still seeing ghosts at every turn. He can’t face his sins yet.

“Okay…”

“Okay?” He quirked a brow.

“I’m not exactly a nice person.” That earned a snort from him.

“I nearly caused the apocalypse.”

“That’s cool.”

“Satoru!” He smacked his arm. They both stared at each other, frozen in the spot they took, before bursting out in laughter. 

He feels lighter. Like a heavy weight piling off his shoulder. He feels lighter. Like the ocean’s receding and he can finally breach the surface of the murky waters to breathe. 

“There is something I can never admit though… Not to my old friends, even after we passed.”

“Hn.”

“Promise you won’t hate me?” 

Satoru tightened his grip over him. “Trust me.”

Kaiya gave a slow nod. “I don’t regret what I did. Not really.” He swallowed. When there’s nothing changing and he can still feel Satoru’s calm and accepting cursed energy beating against his own, he continued. “I just regret hurting those who didn’t deserve it. I still think I was right but, maybe I could have found another way. A better way. Where people don’t have to suffer and I can still make things work.”

The arms around him constricted, brushing against his side in soft assurance as if to say I get it and I’m here.

“Just don’t drown yourself Kaiya-chan.” Satoru leaned his head against his own. “You’re not Obito anymore. Stupid name by the way. Uchiha…” He muttered, trying out the name on his tongue before scrunching up his nose. “Sounds like Ushida.”

He chuckled. “Yeah… I think it has something to do with the Uchiwa fan as our clan symbol.”

“Weirdos.” Satoru grinned. He pulled them on top the mattress with a yelp and held him tight. “I like Okkotsu Kaiya more.”

Kaiya’s lips stretched wide. He buried himself in Satoru’s arms and rub his cheeks against those pale skin. “I like Gojo Satoru more too.”

He’s not Rin.

He’s not Kakashi.

He’ll never be them.

But Rin died and Obito idolised her and never truly knew her. And Kakashi was always a brat and he hated him too much to get to know him. But he also cared and everything between the three of them is a twisted mess of hate, love, I want to kill you and I’ll change this world for you.

But Satoru — Kaiya knows Satoru better than those two combined when they’re still alive. 

He knows the sweets Satoru likes and the way Satoru looks at him with expectant eyes. He knows Satoru hates bitter things but like fizzy lime soda. He knows that Satoru can’t stand vegetables but eats them if he cooks them. He knows how insecure Satoru can be but he never left. He never lashed out and he’s always patient. At least with him. Because he also knows Satoru sees everyone else as beneath him.

Okkotsu Kaiya likes Gojo Satoru more.

Because the strong willed and arrogant Gojo Satoru makes exceptions for him. Gojo Satoru loves his mom even though he doesn’t realised it. He respects Kagome-san because she takes care of Kaiya. He also tolerates Yusuke-senpai because Kaiya respects the guardian. 

So yeah, he likes Gojo Satoru more.

“You’re my best friend, Satoru.” Kaiya yawned before muttering. “Toru-chan.” 

“You’re my best friend too, Kai-chan.” Satoru muttered. There’s a slight intonation in his voice, a clear sign that he’s smiling wide.

Kaiya let himself drift to sleep next to his best friend. There’s a million unspoken things, a million buried secrets. But for now, this is enough. From the way Satoru held him close, he knows it’s enough.

_____________________________________

“The Okkotsu heir is a threat.” The elder turned to their companion. “His clan is disrupting the peace we’ve build for a thousand years.”

Their companion mirrored their grim expression with a twist of their own brows. “But he’s protected. To make things worst, he’s close to the Gojo heir.”

The elder scoffed. “But they’re still brats. There’s more than one way to topple a clan. We have time.”

Their companion raised a questioning brow. “Are you planning on using that?”

The elder nodded. “We just have to find one. When the clan falls, everything should go back to how it was.”

Chapter Text

If there is a truth that can be said throughout his lifetimes, is that Kaiya-chan is a morning person.

Now, when people hear this they would normally assume he loves waking up in the morning. They couldn’t be more wrong. It simply just mean that the sun decides to slap him in the face by making its presence known and decide ‘Hey, I’m coming up soon so wake up.’

There are days that he would often be amicable to waking up early. More often than not, he would sluggishly make his way to the bathroom, ignoring Kagome’s snickering, and flipping off Yusuke just to get ready. Then his life sort of fall into routine.

He would wake up, attend lessons, have lunch with Satoru, training with Kaa-san, go play with Satoru, make dinner and go to bed. It’s monotony at its best. An endless repetition of the life of an eleven years old as far as Kaiya is concern. Obito loved routine, it’s all he’s ever known.

There were plenty of reason that enabled Obito to confine himself into a pattern of daily repetitions. 

To grow stronger.

To appease his mentor.

Or even to await the promised date. 

But that was Obito’s life. 

When the routine breaks, and the promised date come and passed, Kakashi, Rin and Naruto’s belief that Obito’s final sacrifice made him a hero. 

But Obito doesn’t feel that way. 

In his last dredge of life, there were many realisations. One of them is regret. The other is that he was tired. There’s nothing left to do when all the things you’ve known most of your life is a lie and you’ve stained your hand in blood and dyed the snow the colour of his eyes.

For them, his last act of retribution was sufficient to make him a hero. To him, it wasn’t.

So yeah, Obito’s life has been a monotony of repetitions in the pursuit of a promised date. But for one Okkotsu Kaiya, his routine is meant for the pursuit of a second chance. To do and be better for the ones he loved.

And being alive is different from living. Uchiha Obito was alive but Okkotsu Kaiya is living. Whether the routine spins perpetually or it breaks and spun anew, Okkotsu Kaiya’s life is more than Obito’s.

And so the cycle of routine breaks, one Thursday morning.

It’s always a Thursday. 

With the clan bustling with preparations for Tanabata, Kaiya spend the day in the kitchen with his mother. Kaa-san loves to cook. They have chefs who can prepare meals that goes with Kaa-san’s taste but none can cook the things Obito loved.

There were many meals that Obito has made in the weekend with Satoru. Granted that most of them are sweets, but living as s Shinobi, he learned to forage, blend spices and utilised the most bizarre of ingredients combinations to enhance flavours.

This Tanabata is special.

It might be special because it falls on a Thursday. It might be special because he and Satoru are turning eleven. Or it might just be special because he’s able to play his part in the jujutsu’s tradition this year.

He hasn’t joined any celebration before he was reborn. Mostly he’s at the centre, like an idol on display. But now, he can actually sink his hands and hang the papers on the trees. So he plans to make the most out of all to come.

He’s making Kohakutou for the whole clan and more. He still has to make a lot more and some Zunda Mochi. 

“Fuji?” He could feel the beast rising from his shadows with a brief sharp stinging sensation behind his eyes.

“Hn?” Fuji asked. He has a very soft voice but it echoed and overlaps with a more high pitched shrill voice. It’s like listening to two people speaking at once where one is calm teen and the other is a five year old boy. “What’s wrong?”

He glanced at the rabbit beast. “Do you think I could use clones?”

The rabbit tilted his head, claws clutching Kaiya’s shoulder and tails scratching the nook of his floppy ears. It singular red eye blinks before nodding. “I don’t see why not. You’ve been practicing.”

He pulled his hair into a ponytail, enjoying how long it has grown. He looks so much like Kaa-san now, if Kaa-san has some messy wavy hair and ruby eyes.

He closed his eyes and focused on absorbing excess curse energy in the air to channel one of his clan’s technique. He commanded the energies to shape and multiply until there’s ten of him standing in front of him. He opened his eyes and Fuji’s ten elongated tails have turned into a singular more rabbit like fluffy end.

“Alright!” Kaiya cheered. “Let’s get to work. Five of you make the mochi, one makes the paste and four of you help me up with the Kohakutou.”

“Hai boss!” The clones saluted before going to their task.

“What can I do Kaiya?” Fuji rumbled.

“Can you ask Yusuke for the boxes? Maybe help him if he’s not done yet.” The rabbit beast chirped before sinking into his shadows.

With the cursed made clones helping him, the sweets are being made faster.

“Kaiya-sama.” Kagome stood at the kitchen archway. She’s wearing short sleeved shirt and her pants are rolled up to her knees. 

“Hai!” Kaiya stayed focused in mixing the blue coloured jelly in the large bowl. He’s done with the yellow ones and they’re cooling. All that’s left is to cut them up. 

“Kaiya-sama.” Kagome called again. He turned to her only to see her glowering expression. That and the butcher knife dripping with blood in one hand and red spattered on her cheeks makes her look more like a demon than he is.

“Eep!” All his clones squeaked.

“What did I tell you about cooking with cursed energies?” She smiled, a wide stretch full of venom and simmering flame.

“It’s the Demonic Kagome-baba!” One of his clone made the mistake of pointing to her.

“Demonic?” Her forehead ticked. “Baba?”

Kaiya swallowed.

_____________________________________

Birds fluttered as loud screams echoes outside the compound. Hisa shook her head fondly, going back to her task of cleaning the octopus for the takoyaki stand.

‘Kaiya never learns.’

“Hisa-obasan!” 

She turned to the pre-teen calling him and smiled. He’s wearing a plain white shirt with shorts that matched his father. They’re both carrying boxes of candles and lanterns.

The silver-haired Gojo Head with bluish green eyes gave her a courtesy nod. “Hisa.”

“Satoru.” She smiled to Satoru before her eyes tipped into cold crescent towards her long time friend. “Gojo-san.”

“Heish.” The Gojo Head clicked his tongue. “When are you going to stop calling me that?”

Hisa gave him a faux smile. “What do you mean Gojo-san?”

Satoru’s father glowered. “We’ve known each other for years and you’re still a tease. Are you still upset because of yesterday?”

“Ne?” Hisa leaned her cheek over a hand. “I thought you didn’t want to help. I asked and what did you say?” She smiled, pulling the knife closer to her face. “Only women cook?”

Satoru watched the back and forth in fascination. It’s fun to see how different his father is with Hisa-obasan compared to him and Kai-chan.

“Tou-san!” Satoru gasped dramatically with a high pitched squeal in the end. “Are you afraid of a little fire? Or is it the slimy octopus.” He wiggled his hands in mimic of the tentacles.

The Gojo Head’s brows twitched. ”Cheeky brat. I’ll show you.” He dropped the box in Satoru’s hand before stomping next to Hisa. “Give me a knife.”

Hisa slowly passed him the one next to her and placing it firmly in his hands. “Are you sure Gojo-san? The octopuses are slimy.” She paused and grinned before letting the knife go. “Wriggly.”

The Gojo Head shivered, imagining the feeling of suction and slimy jostling cold wrapped around his hands. Satoru giggled and he instantly hardened his face. “Move aside.”

“If you insist, Koji.”

Gojo Koji scowled. Hisa placed a large octopus on the wooden chopping board splayed in front of them, enjoying the pale face on her fellow clan head. 

“I’ll go finish the candles Tou-san!” Satoru turned with shaking shoulders. “Don’t scream.” He smiled at his father.

Hisa chuckled and Koji glared at her. “You have to admit, it’s funny.”

“You’re a menace Hisa.” He gently inched his hands to the purple tentacle and giving it a poke with the tip of his nail.

“You should see Kagome.” Hisa chimed, placing the small pieces into the large basin in between them. “I’m pretty sure she’d beaten up Kaiya at least once today.”

Gojo Koji shook his head before resuming the slow motion of chopping the tentacles into equal bite size pieces. “That heir of yours have been spending too much time with Satoru.” 

“I think they’re cute.” Hisa smiled fondly. “Satoru balances him.”

Koji nodded. “He would have loved this.”

“He would.” Hisa replied. There’s no need to explain who Koji’s talking about. There’s only one possible person. A third to their group. A balance long gone.

They continued chopping whilst enjoying the bustle of their clan mates helping with the preparations. The Gojo clan was assigned to decorate for the main event whilst the Okkotsu clan was delegated to stall decorations and food for the prayer ceremony. The Kamo clan’s working the management and the Zenin are in charge of documentation and photography.

It’s nice. Peaceful even. All the clans coming together to celebrate a special day. It’s not often that they do this. It’s only particularly special because this year Satoru and Kaiya are key players to the main ceremony.

It’s a lucky year for them for two of the blessed ones to be able to partake in prayers for the first time in over a thousand years.

It’s a sign of unity.

It’s a sign that jujutsu world can come together for the greater good.

If only the seedier, darker part of it could be extinguish.

At times Hisa wished so. But the jujutsu world is not kind. It’s not lacking in all the malevolence. Curses are born of men and sorcerers exorcise them. You think that from this fact, sorcerers would be considered a paragon of virtue. The blinding light that tempers the flames of hell and burns the seeds of despair born of men.

Reality is never as beautiful. It’s often disappointing.

Sorcerers don’t have to create curses. They internalise all the filth in them. The use cursed energies and weaponise them without realising that they’re tainted to the core.

“I’ve heard a snake is looking to eat birds.” Koji muttered amidst the chop, chop, chop of steel on wood.

Hisa hummed. “The snake would fail for birds are always atop of trees.”

“That’s not true isn’t it. This snake is climbing up a rotten tree.” There’s a gleam in Koji eyes as he placed the knife down. “There’s an ancient tree that drinks blood around.”

Hisa froze, knife frozen mid-movement. She raised a brow at Koji. “I thought that tree is gone.”

“Some ants have stumbled and found one.”

She gripped the hilt of the knife tight. Her hands trembled. She’s not sure whether to be angry or scared. This is beyond what she thought. “Are they replanting the tree here?”

“The gardener has not decided.”

She nodded. “Maybe we should start putting poison. To lure the snake out. Don’t you think Koji?”

“We might get bitten.”

She bit her lips before sighing and continuing her work. “At least the birds can fly free.”

Koji nodded in assent. “At least the birds can fly free.”

_____________________________________

“Sorry Kaiya.” Fuji grumbled.

He came back from helping Yusuke only to see two lump of red on his friend’s forehead. All his clones were cowering at the corner on their knees spotting the same bruises. 

At least they managed to fulfil their tasks. The kitchen is empty saved for the Yomi Sorcerer and his clones with mountain stacks of Kohakutou and Zunda Mochi that could feed the entire jujutsu mountain and more.

Kaiya sniffed and smiled. “It’s fine.” He took the galaxy patterned boxes and started placing the Kohakutou into them. “Kagome-san’s always so strict. Not your fault.”

Fuji blinked, calling back the clones. The ten figures dissolved into black wisp and trailed back into himself. His singular fluffy tail stretches into ten and soon the ends of those tails each have one hand. The bunny hopped and peered at what his friend is doing.

“You want one?” Kaiya offered, waggling the Kohakutou. It’s a dark blue amber sugar candy with yellow stars and moon in the middle.“We have a lot.” He gestured to the stacks filling the kitchen.

Fuji wondered how Kaiya’s not exhausted. He remembered Naruto and his absurd amount of stamina but that was more the Kyuubi’s contribution and not Naruto himself. He glanced at his friend and he could see cursed energies in the air moving like wisps towards his friend’s body before being converted into his own.

‘Passive Tsukuyomi?’

His friend pulled out a handkerchief and placed the candy on the floor atop of it. Fuji’s eye bend upwards.

The rabbit beast enjoyed the candy, nibbling at the edges and giving in  a few licks. 

“Did you see Toru-chan?” He pulled over a smaller box with cloud patterns and stars that he made himself and started packing it with candies and mochi.”

Fuji’s ears twitched. He tilted his head in thought before shaking them. “No. Too much.”

Kaiya gets it. There’s just too many cursed energy signatures mulling about them. Fuji’s not that good in separating them yet. Kaiya knows Satoru was somewhere close and now he’s further. Maybe his friend went to the shrine.

Satoru’s flare of blue is unmistakable. Just like Satoru can always find him, Kaiya can too. Satoru’s curse energy is like the ocean. It’s calm on normal days but it hides a raging tempest.  Satoru can see his cursed energy thanks to his Rokugan but Kaiya can sense Satoru’s because of the Rinnegan.

Over the years, they managed to compare and figure out how their blessing’s differ.

Satoru always said that his blessings is physical while Kaiya’s own is spiritual. But surely their eyes are similar. 

Turns out, not so much. 

The Six Eyes takes everything as a whole. It captures every detail and allows Satoru to see even the tiniest of detail. It’s more akin to the Eternal Magenkyou Sharingan but better, more dynamic. It also allows Satoru to see things from far apart and through obstacles like the Byakugan. It allows Satoru to remember from the most minor twitches in the iris in a moment between a million of a second and understands what that twitch means to instantly react accordingly.

The Samsara Eyes that Kaiya has is more similar to the Rinnegan he’s used too. It allows Kaiya to see cursed energies even where Satoru can’t. But Kaiya can also see the shape of one’s soul. It’s amazing and terrifying at the same time.

But it’s also akin to the Sharingan in that it allows him to see how energies mould and predict the technique before it shapes and copy them. It’s also similar to the Byakugan in that Kaiya can see the weak points in curse energies to dispel any jujutsu.

Satoru’s blessing works well with his eidetic memories. It makes him faster in finding solutions and analysing situations. Kaiya’s blessing matches well with his photographic reflexes. It allows him to respond to situations in split second and cast techniques to repel, contain, destroy.

They cover each other’s weaknesses. They really are each other’s equal.

A balancing that the world have decided needed to exist.

It’s a blessing and it’s a curse. Because surely if the world decided that two blessed ones should appear in this day and age, then a catastrophe is looming. It’s hiding at the corners of the world and waiting til the crack of dawn where the sun rises from the west and the moon shines red. For now, the calamity slumbers. 

It’s waiting for both eyes to bloom.

“There’s something else though.” Fuji’s ears perked at him. “Do you feel that?” The rabbit narrowed their eye. The feeling is unmistakable. Amidst the flare of cursed energies, there’s a singular void. Kaiya would have dismissed it as a none-sorcerer but even objects and regular civilians have a speck of cursed energy.

This one has none and it’s moving.

To make it more intriguing, it’s heading towards them. From the way Fuji continued nibbling at his candy, Kaiya’s going to take it as a none threat.

The kitchen door slammed open and a scary muscular man glared at them. Black hair and black eyes. But they have longer nose than the Okkotsu clan’s and sharper features. The Okkotsu looks regal, this guy looks wild.

‘He doesn’t have any cursed energy.’

He looks scary but unimpressive, other than the muscles. Wow, the guy’s built like a brick house. Even Might Guy doesn’t have his muscles. Kisame might have come close. But even they looked more muscular. This guy looked like he hasn’t missed chest day and has done yoga at the same time.

‘Look at those skinny waist.’

The man grinned. “So you’re the brat. Never thought they make you do a maid’s work.”

“What’s it to you?” Kaiya scowled. “It’s not maid’s work.” He grumbled, ignoring the man and went back to packing.

The man snorted. He stepped closer to him and Kaiya can sense Fuji bristling by his side. “Still maid’s work.”

Kaiya bites his tongue. He’s tempted to snark back but that might endanger his hard work.“What do you want?” He took another box. “If nothing, there’s other people to bother.”

“Hissy.” The man chuckled. He took a seat and propped his own head on one hand. “The Zenin wanted some food for the stall. Promotional stuff.”

Kaiya raised a brow. “You could have just said that.” He stood and patted his knees. He walked to the stack that he’s done and took a box of candy and one of mochi. The man was more focused on Fuji than watching Kaiya doing his work.

“This thing’s not a shikigami.”

Kaiya froze for a moment before forcing his body to its regular motion. What could he say to that? He could lie and tell the guy he’s insane but he knows people. He knows how to manipulate them, push them and use them. So he knows this guy won’t buy it. 

“You’re wondering how I know?”

He kept quiet and focused on counting the necessary boxes needed and checking their contents.

“I’ve seen so many shikigami to know it’s not. It’s not a curse as well.” Kaiya had to stop and coil his cursed energy tight. “It has the same energy as a curse, but it looks like a shikigami. Must have confused a lot of people.”

Kaiya turned and saw the man smiled. The kind that screams of a cat that caught the canary. It found something interesting to toy with and it would rather play with its prey before swallowing it whole. “You’re interesting, Okkotsu Kaiya.”

“Maa…” Kaiya turned with faux playfulness, channeling someone he knows well for a lifetime. “You seem to know who I am, but I don’t even know your name?”

The man leaned back, unwilling to provide an answer. He doesn’t have to. Only one person would be sent by the Zenin with this much cursed energy.

“You shouldn’t look into things that can get you killed.”

The man laughed, a full body laughter that hurts his frame like Kaiya’s threat mean nothing. He stopped and smirked, eyes burrowing at Kaiya. “You can try.”

He shoved the boxes at the man and gave him a cold smile. “You’re underestimating me.”

The man sighed. He pushed himself up and took the packages. “I’m not here to fight.” The man’s face morphed into a neutral expression. “This is my last Tanabata.”

Kaiya knows. He knows how bad the Zenin are. He knows what the man has to face. Some people could only hold on to so much before they snapped. 

It takes only two reasons why; either they have had enough or they have something to protect. This man, this soon to be ex-Zenin, is strong. So it can’t be the first reason.

“Consider this my gift Okkotsu Kaiya. Keep your,” he glanced at Fuji, “‘shikigami’ safe. People are getting suspicious. It won’t be long before even the blind can see the truth.”

“Thank you.” Kaiya nodded politely. The man turned with a wave and Kaiya felt compelled to give him one last chance. “I have a gift too.” The man’s movement halted. “If you need protection, come find me.”

“I’m stronger than you think.”

He doesn’t know why he even offered. It could be a misguided attempt to pay back for the warning. 

The man gave him a glance over his shoulder. “Zenin Toji. Use it.”

Kaiya gave him a soft smile.

_____________________________________

“Kaiya.” Kaa-san called from the kitchen door. “You should get ready. The trek would be long.”

“Hai, Kaa-san.” Kaiya walked towards her, Fuji in tow. The staff had began picking up the treats that he’s made to pass them to the clan stalls. Most of them, as of Fuji’s summoning, tend to avoid him especially if his ‘shikigami’ is around.

They’re wary. 

‘Perhaps Toji-san is on to something.’

Not many act normal around him. Not anymore. Since his powers loom and grow, many have started to realise, that the sweet innocent Young Master would just be another monster. And sorcerers often fear monsters.

‘Is this what Naruto and Gaara faced? Is this my price to pay for ruining their lives?’

Kaa-san gently caressed his cheeks. “Come, Kagome and Yusuke are waiting.” 

Kaiya nodded. At least he still have them.

His two caretakers make quick work on preparing him. Yusuke took Fuji from him, carrying the rabbit beast in his arms. He opened the door to be attacked by the scent of spider lilies. The accursed flower of his clan was floating in his tub.

“Kaa-san, why?”

Yusuke snickered. “Don’t you know? The moon maiden in the tale smelled of flowers.”

He turned to his guard and glared. Kagome ignored their antiques and went to pick out the ceremonial robes for him. 

He begrudgingly stomped into the bathroom and slammed the door. Yusuke’s laughter was drowned by the partition between them.

“Asshole.”

When he made it out, Kagome stood by to dress him. He can’t even be upset that someone’s dressing him up like he’s a child. He has no idea what to do. There’s just too many pieces and ornaments.

They dressed him up in a black silk kimono with diamond threads and put a thin golden circlet  lined with red rubies on his head. Kagome was enthused in trying to put makeup on him. He has never felt more like a doll in his entire two lives.

The kimono in itself is beautiful. With diamond threads interlaced in the seams, it glimmers with every twitch of his movement like stars. 

Kagome smiled at him, lacing a beautiful long red silk scarf, a hagoromo, around his shoulders and tucked under his hands.

Even Yusuke was into it, braiding his long hair into a ponytail and tying the two ends with white silk ribbons.

He turned to the mirror, expecting to see a mess. Obito was never someone noteworthy. Uchiha was always considered beautiful or regal. But Obito, for all of his blood, is the most common Uchiha. 

He’s not common to be unforgettable. He’s common enough that people wondered, is he really an Uchiha. Spiky hair and plain eyes. 

Uchiha Obito was earthly, mortal and bland.

He’s never had the beauty of the Uchiha nor is he as enticing as Kakashi. 

He was common.  

This truth rang through out his life. But now, looking at the mirror, donned with glimmering black kimono and blood red accessories, golden circlet lined with red rubies that matched his eyes.

Fuji keened from his bed.

He couldn’t believe it. 

He still doesn’t look like an Uchiha. He would never get the chance. But he has his mother’s features now. His pale skin accentuated with red eyeliners and red lipsticks and his round ruby eyes, which he suspects he inherited from his father, he couldn’t believe what he’s seeing.

“I’m beautiful.” He choked up.

“You always were.” His mother’s soft voice lingered at the front of his door. 

She’s wearing the usual clan black ceremonial kimono with red outlines and the clan’s emblem at the back. She approached him, holding a black velvet box in her hands. 

She turned to Yusuke and Kagome and the two heeded the silent command to leave and get ready on their own.

“I have a gift.” She pulled him gently by the wrist towards the bed. Fuji moved to make way for them.

Kaa-san softly brushed over the velvet box before opening it. The lid opened to reveal a plain thick black thread with a singular red magatama. The necklace, simplistic but eye-catching, is brimming with cursed energy. Kaa-san lifted the necklace and let it hang between them.

She gave a wistful smile as her eyes trailed over the necklace. It’s as if she’s looking at a precious memory that she treasured the most. But that can’t be right, because if Kaa-san really treasured this plain item, she would have worn it all the time.

“You’ve never wondered about your father.” There’s a soft crack in her words. She said that like it’s a fact, true and unimpeachable, laced with longing for a something untouchable.

His strong Kaa-san should never sound wrecked and fragile. She’s the impenetrable and strong-willed Okkotsu Head that stands equal to the Gojo Head. 

“I don’t blame you.”

Kaiya swallowed.

“Your father died even before he knew I had you.” She clasped the necklace tight in her hands. “He was a bastard child from no clan.” Kaiya gave her a disbelieving look. 

It’s hard to believe his father was a nobody. 

Not because of anything he know about him, which is to say nothing. 

He always suspected the topic of his father was a sore spot for the clan because maybe, just maybe, his father’s passing was marred with grief and the clan could not move on. 

But to think he was a bastard, a nobody that caught the eye of the most beautiful woman to Kaiya’s eyes. 

There’s a story there. A story of either a woman who defied the norm or a nobody who was so special that he caught the eyes of a goddess. Kaiya liked to believe it’s the latter. If only it would make the tale more heartwarming. More romantic.

She chuckled at his look. “He was a nobody all his life but he was strong, funny, and stubborn. He passed while protecting me during a mission.” She smiled at him, overlapping his image with someone long passed. She gently tuck the stray strand of his midnight black hair to the back of his ear. “You have his hair and his eyes.” Her fingers lingered on the strands, gently brushing them. “His name was Ritsuki.”

Kaiya mouthed the name, testing it in his mouth. Kaa-san gently took his hand and placed the necklace in them before clutching his fingers around it.

“He gave me this long ago to protect me.” He looked at the necklace, a picture of who his father was clicking into place like a puzzle that he had no interest in suddenly garnering his attention and now all he wants is to complete it to see the entire picture. “I never knew what it could do but maybe he’s right. It protected me after he passed and it protected me when I was with you. And…” Kaa-san swallowed. “And now, I’m giving it to you, in hopes that your father will always protect you in spirit. Wear it always.”

He nodded, gently pushing the necklace bath to his mother’s fingers.

“Could you put it on me, please?”

There’s tears in her eyes and fondness on her lips as she nodded.

_____________________________________

The foot of the mountain is littered with lanterns to emulate the stars. Glimmering lanterns light up the path pass the Torii gate and all the way up the steps where the main shrine is located at the top.

Stalls lined the open waiting area where clan members from the Big Four Clans and the minor ones are mulling about, enjoying the free food prepared by the Okkotsu. From takoyaki to grilled beef tongue and yakisoba. Satoru would normally rather be eating than being stuffed in awful stuffy clothing.

Satoru’s dressed in silk white garb from head to toe. Save for his black Geta and his black Eboshi, his sash, his yukata and his sandals were all white with lines of blue as if to accentuate the divinity of his blood and birth. He’s holding a wooden wand as tall as his upper body with zigzagged shide. His Gohei fluttered in the evening wind as the sun begins to set.

He would normally not care for tradition and he hates dressing up in stuffy outfit. But for just this one evening, he would make an exception.

Because for this one evening, he’s not Gojo Satoru.

For this one evening, he’s Hikoboshi. He’s the star Alistair who herds the cows of mortal kind and shepherd them day in and day out.

For this one evening, he’s Hikoboshi. He’s the boy whose path will be paved in stars as he reunites with his other half.

For this one evening, he will join with his Orihime as they resume their role of divinity and pray and bless the heaven to reunite them forevermore.

Surely the heavens would listen the cries of the divine blessed. Surely the heavens would heed the desires of the gods amongst mortals.

“Are you ready Satoru?” His cowardly Tou-san asked, adjusting his Eboshi. 

He scowled at his Tou-san’s attempt to ruin his hair. He worked hard to make them look perfect and no amount of Limitless can fix that. 

“Stop it.”

It’s easy for his cowardly Tou-san to messed with him considering he’s only wearing those boring Gojo robes. A horrible white and blue with their clan emblem.

Tou-san raised a brow. “I thought you would be on your best behaviour. You know how important this ceremony is.”

He scoffed.  

Does his father take him for a fool? He knows the particulars of Tanabata and how it differs from civilian celebrations. If the civilians celebrate the joining of two lovers with food and fireworks, the jujutsu sorcerers do so for a greater purpose. 

It’s more than just a joining of two lovers.

It’s the blessings of the divine by a pair of sorcerers with the most cursed energy. The two would walk to the shrine, blessing each step and passing off their energy to the main shrine and renew the pillar of energy around the entirety of Japan. 

By doing so, they ward evil for as long as the supplied energy can handle. By doing so, they protect their clan for another year, if the pair are competent enough. 

Every year the pair would be chosen differently. This year, however, there’s only two people whose qualified. And they will be qualified for decades to come.

So yeah, he knows how important it is. 

If it were up to Satoru he would run up the stairs and blast the shrine with Limitless and be done with. However, it’s different for Kai-chan.

Kai-chan rather the jujutsu world evolve and adapt. Be better than the day before. But Kai-chan also prefers to preserve tradition where it matters. And where it matters to Kai-chan is during festivals.

There’s something about celebrations that Kai-chan rather not tamper with. Satoru thinks it has something to do with his previous life. 

However Uchiha Obito lived, it must have been a sad existence. One rife with grief and despair that they could not enjoy the barest of hanabi in the sky. Could not even glimpse the scent of incense popping on new moon.

Since knowing of Uchiha Obito, even the barest that it is, Satoru swore that he would make sure that his best friend, his equal, would not live a life of regret. And if indulging him in frivolous traditions could paint a smile on his features, there’s no harm in that.

Before Satoru can hurl insults at him, drums began to fill the air. The crowds stopped murmuring and eyes lingered at the opposite end of the stairway to the shrine. From the edges of the steps towards the main area, a goddess had stolen his breath.

Milk white skin in glimmering black kimono stained with gold and red strode before the horizon. Eyes the colour of the gems on his head shines with mirth and delight. His Orihime quirked their red lips and Satoru could feel the warmth rising in his neck.

“Oho, he dressed up exquisitely.” There’s mirth in his Tou-san’s voice. “Beautiful, powerful and can cook. Satoru, you sure you can win?”

“I don’t lose.” He hissed at his traitorous father.

His Orihime moved, graceful steps devoid of the clacking of wooden sandals. Satoru would have suspected Abyss into play if not for the lack of simmering cursed energy in his steps. His procession, Hisa-obasan, escorted him by the side with the box of offerings in her hands.

“Toru-chan.” He greeted.

It took Satoru a moment to breathe. It took him a moment to swallow and draw his eyes away from his lips and to his eyes and ‘crap where am I supposed to look?’

“Kai-chan.” His greeting sounded stilted.

There’s mirth in his eyes and fondness at the edge of his lips. He nodded lightly to Satoru. “Shall we, my Hikoboshi?”

Gojo Satoru, master of wits, the silver-tongued charmer, the lady killer, was rendered speechless. “Hai, Orihime.”

The two clan heads exchanged a simple nod, watching the scene before them with exasperated fondness as Kaiya stood next to his equal. The two heads glanced at each other knowingly as they took their position behind the two heirs.

_____________________________________

The tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi is a tale of love and duty.

Where two divine beings with duties that are pivotal to heavens bind their fate with threads of red and absconded their own task. With the heavens in disarray, the pair of equal were separated by a river of stars. 

Only once every year, where the two would be reunited. By throes of white with wings to bridge their gap, the two would reunite and embrace their love for one night.

For one night, duties can be set aside, and the two divine could become nothing more than each other’s.

_____________________________________

Drums blared and flutes chimed as the two divine beings begin their ascend.

There’s a river of lantern between them, where black is separated by white. 

There’s a river of lanterns between them where the papers burned, flared and morphed into creatures of white with feathered wings.

There’s a river of lanterns between them where the gentle flames of red and coiling waves of blue splashes, meet, merge and transform the rivers with every step.

There’s seventy steps from the first Torii gate to the last as the two divine ascends.

There’s seventy steps filled with lanterns as the Moon and the Sun ascend to leave their divine form and become mortal once more. To abandon their duty and place love first.

There’s seventy steps to the top as the procession of jujutsu societies, young and old, marched behind them in the heavenly parade to bless their world for years to come.

With each step, the lanterns burn and take flight with wings as pure as the heavens themselves. With each step, the crowd affirmed that none is holier than the two divine blessed pair.

Passed the final Torii gate, they made their stop at the chozuya and picked up the ladle. With each stroke of water, their sins are washed and they are made pure. Wash away thy sins from left to your right. Cleanse your soul vide the path to your insides before finally purging the wooden tool from mortal stains.

There’s a path of cement between separation and reunion. There’s a path of cement where the parade parted to the side as the only one who could pave the rest of the journey is the divine and their heavenly envoys.  There’s a path of cement where the illusory birds end and they converge.

With simple exchange, a box the colour of night skies is passed. With a simple exchange, two white paper charms were given with the finest brush and ink to dressed them with.

The door to the main shrine opened and the two divine beings passed the gate to the heavens. Mortals waited and toiled with bated breath as the wooden doors held firm. There’s a beat then two, then a burst of pure white light beamed from the divine mirrors.

The heavens had answered and the heavens had blessed. The night shone bright to the eyes of sorcerers. 

A blessing of red and blue. 

A blessing for the year to come.

_____________________________________

“This is stupid.” Satoru scowled with full disdain.

The two of them had to sit at the table in front of the shrine as the celebration went on. 

Even their parents could join the celebration with their own two feet. Satoru hated being waited on hand and feet. He much prefer to exercise his autonomy.

“I have something that would help.” Kai-chan said.

He pulled out a blue box draped in clouds and stars and placed it on the table before pushing it to him. Satoru beamed, already knowing what’s inside. He excitedly threw the lid off and drooled at the sweets inside.  

“You made these didn’t you?”

Kai-chan chuckled, covering his laughter with his sleeve, still playing the act of a regal goddess. “I made all the sweets today but these,” He pointed to the box in front of Satoru, “I made special for you. Just the way you like them Toru-chan.”

Satoru admired the mochi, turning it to memorise its beauty before plopping them into his mouth.

Satoru moaned.

Kaiya enjoyed the ongoing celebration. He could make out his mother walking from stall to stall with the Gojo Head. There’s a gleam in her eyes as she dragged the unwilling Gojo Head over each stall. The more they passed, the more food is piled up into his arms.

It’s hilarious to see his mother act more like herself amongst her age.

It’s nice to see the clans simply just be. There’s the Inumaki Head walking with his pregnant wife. The Zenin mistress sitting at the grilled beef stall. Kaiya could also make out the man he met earlier, Zenin Toji, hunching next to a beautiful woman with their arms link as she pointed at something and laugh.

It’s domestic.

It’s serene.

It reminded Kaiya of the wish he wrote on a piece of Tanzaku hanging inside the shrine. A wish he hoped could remain, at least for the year to come.