Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Si-woo never thought he’d live in Japan. Not even in his wildest daydreams, on the days he was sure he would never leave Korea and thus, indulged in the most outlandish fantasies, did he ever envision Japan as a place he would visit, let alone live. There was too much bitterness between them, too much he inherited from his mother, from extended family, from the community around him. 

Knowing what he knew now about cursed energy, he really wondered why there wasn’t more of it around. He knew the theoretical reason—Master Tengen was responsible for doing something with cursed energy that made it so much more potent around the country, and everywhere else had energy that was much, much more subdued. 

But still, Si-woo wondered, because too many places were filled with such traumatic events that he always thought there had to be more cursed energy residing there than there ever was. 

Maybe it was better that way. The jujutsu world was a terrible one, by all accounts, and maybe it was a blessing that it was largely contained to one country. Maybe not. Si-woo wasn’t sure. He had long lost his sense of what was right and wrong, what was deserved and what wasn’t. 

Sometimes, Si-woo regretted ever having come to Japan. Not just because a part of him felt like it was, in fact, a betrayal, or because some nights, he doubted everything he had done to get to this point, but because it was just so lonely. He had got what he wanted in life, even had a kid now, but it was only starting to feel like he had a home here. 

He knew going back to his actual home wouldn’t make any of it better, though. He’d cut off all ties to anyone he had known and only recently started reconnecting with Korean culture. 

Returning to Korea would then be its own kind of hell. It was easy to forget when he got nostalgic and made mandu, but going back would just remind him of everything he had given up and for what, exactly? Money? Less short-term effort?  

Si-woo saw his first curse when he was nine. He hadn’t known what they were at the time. He just screamed and ran to his mother, who consoled him but just thought he had a fright from an overactive imagination. The next time he saw one, he didn’t tell her, even though he could barely sleep that night. 

And while he could never hide anything from his mother back then, Si-woo was good at lying. He told her it was just nightmares when she asked what was wrong, and didn’t pretend to be a big kid or anything when she let him crawl into her bed at night. Si-woo had been a child and had wanted comfort and protection, like he supposed all children wanted. Since his mother could not protect him from things she could not see, he settled for whatever comfort he could get. 

Si-woo almost missed being nine. 

Eventually, though, he told one of his friends. He didn’t even remember her name now, but her family had followed Muism. He hadn’t known the name for it back then, just that it was an open secret that she and her family did something that wasn’t quite allowed, although no one was going to call them out on it. 

His friend asked him a bunch of questions about how he was feeling and what the “spirit” looked like, and then said that he could maybe become a shaman, even though the spirit wasn’t any that she recognised and the apparent “sickness” wasn’t long enough to be sinbyeong and Si-woo was a boy. 

“What’s being a boy got to do with it?” Si-woo remembered asking. 

His friend just shrugged and said something along the lines that most shamans were women. 

And then Si-woo and his mother moved, so he never saw her again. He wondered if she was a shaman now, especially since Muism was no longer outlawed. He wondered if she remembered him at all. He wondered if maybe Muism had the right idea, and if all the spirits and gods that people claimed to see were just curses. 

Maybe. Maybe not. If curses and the wide variety of cursed techniques could exist, who was there to say that there couldn’t also be gods and spirits of the magnitudes that other cultures were centered around? Ten Shadows dealt with shikigami, after all. 

Despite his friend’s words, though, Si-woo did not become a shaman or seek Muism out. After the initial nightmares and wondering if he had lost his mind, he got used to it, no longer needed comfort, and figured that he could probably capitalize off of this. It was a talent that he could cultivate, that would only be his. He was ordinary in all facets of his life, but this, this made him something extraordinary. 

So Si-woo was known as the ghost kid at school, and soon enough, anyone in the town came to him if they were worried about spirits. There wasn’t much that Si-woo could do beyond seeing them, but quick searches online brought him old tales on how to deal with phenomena, and those were usually right as to what spirits did or didn’t like. 

It was a pretty easy job, once Si-woo got into it. At a point, it was just employing a list of strategies near memorized by how often he referenced it or telling his clients that they should look into getting a sturdier home. 

Come high school, it was really the only thing he knew how to do well. Sure, he worked at an actual job, went through school, and did his extracurriculars all just fine, but this was where he stood out. Not that anyone that mattered knew. He was good at lying, especially about his whereabouts.  

His mother had badgered him incessantly to get a life. Si-woo didn’t like upsetting her, but hadn’t known how. There wasn’t anything in life that Si-woo had really wanted to do, and there wasn’t anything that he excelled at other than this supernatural job of his. 

So, he went through high school trying to find other people like him. On his few days off, he traveled to Seoul, with its large and dense population, and he kept his ears and eyes open. 

It paid off, in the end. He found a sorcerer and kept following them until he got answers. He learned that he was seeing curses, not spirits. He learned about jujutsu sorcerers, and he learned that all the real action was happening in Japan.

“You’re on the weaker side,” that sorcerer said. “The real pro is to be able to use cursed energy, which you can’t. But you did find me, so you do have good eyes, and that’s worth something. It can get you a living there. More than it would here, anyways.” 

Si-woo thought about it for approximately a week before deciding on his answer. He spent the rest of high school saving up, learning Japanese, practicing curse hunting, and working in forgery. Once he graduated, he calmly told his mother that he had booked a flight to Japan and would be living there. 

She was livid. Not just that he wasn’t pursuing higher education and that he was apparently dodging service, but that he was moving to Japan. 

Si-woo sat through the conversation she had at him, didn’t respond when she said they were going to talk about this later, and in the early hours of the next day, he left home. His mother had still been asleep. 

It wasn’t easy, getting set up in Japan. He got a new name that took a while to adjust to, and while he looked for the jujutsu community, he got a job as a police officer before hurriedly transferring over to being a detective. He quit that job two years later, once he was secure in the not so legal parts of the jujutsu world and had successfully transferred his experience as an officer and dectective to make it seem like he completed his service back in Korea. Perhaps he should have felt a bit of guilt or shock about how readily he was completely disobeying the law.

But at least for jujutsu, nothing about it was even monitored by the law, so on that front, Si-woo spent less time feeling bad and more time quietly amazed. 

What that sorcerer back in Seoul had told him was true—there were so many curses and so few sorcerers that even someone like him, who could only see curses, could easily get a job. A part of Si-woo was slightly envious, because cursed techniques looked incredibly cool to a twenty year old, but they made people cocky, made them let down their guard. 

Si-woo would never let down his guard. It was interesting what made others do it, though. 

Maybe he was manipulative, maybe he just had good ideas, but he let his eyes stay wide-eyed and shoulders hunched. He stammered, though never because he was having problems with the language. Unlike the police department, which required ID, no one needed to know of his background here. 

In short, he let everyone underestimate him. Which meant that while everyone was backstabbing each other to rise the ranks, Si-woo—or rather, Kong Shiu—slipped out of focus and into popularity. It didn’t even take half a year, and because of his act, people liked him too much to do anything about it, even as he shifted out of the naive and humble act to his usual self. Si-woo wasn’t the number one middleman or anything, after all. He was just good, and everyone knew it. 

And then, he met Zen’in Toji. 

No one wanted to work with Toji. The man was abrasive and the Zen’in family was powerful. Anyone in their right mind stayed away from him, for fear of aggravating the Zen’in family by associating with the black sheep. 

Here was the thing about Si-woo: he had good eyes, and those eyes told him exactly how powerful Toji could be. How effective. Not capitalizing off of that would be a waste. 

Here was the other thing about Si-woo: even though he had been in Japan for a few years now, invested in jujutsu society for a bit less than that, he did not know everything. He, for example, did not know how important the Zen’in family was, nor what they would do to get their way. 

And what they wanted was for Toji to fail. 

Insurance paid for a considerable amount of the damage his apartment sustained, and he had enough saved, outside of the monthly payments he made to his mother, to move to a cheap room and get a new phone. He deleted the contacts of his family and old friends, only hesitating with his mother’s. 

But it wasn’t like he was talking much to any of them anyways. 

“The old man mess with you?” Toji asked when Si-woo, a bit disheveled despite his best efforts, came to talk about a contract the next day. 

Si-woo shrugged and Toji looked at him, with those cold eyes of his. 

“He did,” Toji said, not sounding serious but perhaps contemplative. Like he was studying Si-woo, waiting for his reaction. “You’re not going to back off?”

Si-woo didn’t even need to think about his answer. “Nope.” 

Toji smiled at that. He didn’t often do that. Sure, he laughed with a sharp edge and he grinned ruthlessly but he rarely smiled. 

“Back to work, then,” Toji said, and that was that. 

Well, not exactly, since Si-woo had gotten a few calls from the Zen’in family, and it took Si-woo taking them on as clients for them to at least view him with respect and back off. Each and every time they contacted him, Toji could tell, and that look would come into his eyes, wondering if Si-woo would dip. 

Si-woo didn’t. Which was essentially their partnership—Toji doing something or being a part of something and Si-woo just sticking around. 

And now Toji was dead. And Si-woo was raising his son. And he had Geto Suguru as a client, as well as the Zen’in family again, and Si-woo just felt tired. 

He hadn’t talked to his mother in years. The last time had been right before Si-woo had deleted her contact. It had barely been a conversation. They didn’t know how to talk to each other anymore, and Si-woo wondered when exactly they ever had. He wondered if they had ever had—Si-woo was nine when he first lied to her and hadn’t stopped since. He wondered if the monthly payments had set out what he meant them to do—show that Si-woo still cared, that he didn’t want to hurt her, that he loved her. 

He wondered a lot of things during those few, quiet minutes.

After a period of silence, Si-woo had spoken up, told her that he had to change his phone and get a new number, but he had given her his new number. 

“If you want, you can call me,” he had said. 

She hadn’t. He knew that she wrote the number down, but she had never called. Si-woo had switched phones again after that, and played with the idea of calling her up—because even though he deleted her contact, he still remembered her number. Instead, that old phone was kept in his pocket, just in case, one day, she did call. 

Si-woo… had a life in Japan. He had a kid that he did care about. He even had what some would call a friend in Fushiguro. 

And yet, some days, he still only felt regret, coming here in the first place. 

Si-woo told Fushiguro about Megumi knowing about his dad. He could tell that she wanted to berate him, but for some reason, she held off. Maybe Si-woo sounded that poorly, that pitiful. Which would be fucking hilarious, if that was the case, because Toji hadn’t even been his friend. There was no real reason for Si-woo to miss him, unlike Megumi who lost his dad. Didn’t matter what kind of a dad Toji was—he had still been Megumi’s father.

Besides, Megumi was young. He probably wanted a dad. 

Instead, he got Si-woo. 

Si-woo let out a deep exhale. He had dropped Megumi off at school and told him that if he wasn’t feeling well, he could tell the school to call him, and Si-woo would come and pick him up. 

Megumi had just shrugged and went into his class. So Si-woo had gone to work, ignoring the feeling that told him he had just done something wrong. 

Megumi was quiet for the rest of the day, and Si-woo gave him as many concessions as he could. He let Megumi bring the Divine Dogs out, he took Megumi to a park—without the dogs, of course—and even texted Fushiguro, asking if they could set up a playdate sometime soon. There was still the worry of the Zen’in’s finding him, but it had been a while and Megumi was upset. Upset in a way that Si-woo didn’t know how to fix. Though he loathed it, Si-woo knew that meant that he needed help. 

And unlike Toji, Si-woo could easily accept that. That was why things always got better for him. And that was why, though his heart plunged every time he saw Megumi’s sunken face, he knew that it wouldn’t last. It’d get better. 

Megumi didn’t choose a bedtime story that night.

It was nearing one in the morning when the call came. Si-woo couldn’t sleep and had decided to tire himself out with work, despite knowing he’d sorely regret it. 

So here he was, half-heartedly putting together the information for Geto’s meeting with the Star Religious Group. He was supposed to get it done a bit earlier, but he had been a bit too preoccupied with taking care of Megumi. 

And then, Si-woo’s phone rang. And it was Geto’s number on the screen. 

Si-woo looked forlornly as the half-finished work. Well, at least he got the basic information. He could always make it sound fancier on the phone. 

Before Si-woo could even get a greeting in, Geto’s voice came in over the phone, “What medicine do you get for a sick child?” 

It took a moment for the words to register. “What kind of sickness are we talking about?” 

“Nanako was throwing up,” Geto said. “She stopped, but I think that she has a fever.” 

“Are you sure it’s a sickness, or did she eat stuff that upset her stomach?”

“I’ve been keeping the twin’s meals healthy,” Geto said defensively. 

“Well, if it’s a cold—”

“But you don’t normally vomit from colds.” 

Looked like someone didn’t do their research. “Small children can vomit from colds, either due to coughing too much or if their airways are obstructed with mucus. Especially if they’ve eaten recently.” 

“So what Nanako has is a cold?”

“It’s a possibility.” 

“But what if it’s the flu?”

“That’s more likely,” Si-woo admitted. “You said she has a fever?” 

“Yeah. So should I get flu medicine? Or should I get her to a doctor?”

Si-woo discreetly pulled up some notes he made on children when he first decided he’d find Megumi. 

“Is she able to keep anything down?” Si-woo asked. 

“Water.” 

“Like, food. Is she able to keep food down?” 

“I didn’t try,” Geto said. “I didn’t want her to get worse.” 

Si-woo rubbed his face. “And the fever—that’s just started, too?”

“A bit after she stopped vomiting.” 

“For now, just let her rest. Keep her hydrated, make sure her airways aren’t blocked and make sure the fever doesn’t get worse. Don’t start with medication right away, especially because you don’t know for certain what she has.” 

“Okay,” Geto said, and Si-woo heard his voice, sounding a bit farther away, saying, “We’re going home.” 

Si-woo paused. “Are you… outside with the girls now?”

“... Maybe.” 

“Including Nanako, who’s sick?”

“I wasn’t going to leave her alone.” 

Geto was a bit of an idiot. 

“Get them home, keep them warm, and keep Mimiko from Nanako so she doesn’t get sick too. Also make sure your place stays clean,” Si-woo said, and then sighed. “I guess that means you won’t be able to make a meeting with the Star Religious Group soon, then?”

“What? No.” Geto paused, and then, sounding worried, asked, “Is that bad?”

“They’re a bit exclusive,” Si-woo said. “I got a list of dates, and we can choose the time farthest from now, but that’s in a few days.” 

“Can’t we cancel?”

“They might not think that you’re devoted.” 

Geto let out a frustrated exhale. “And I’m not devoted because I’m taking care of kids?”

“They set out the order to assassinate the Star Plasma Vessel. They’re fine for dying for humanity, if it fits them. They’re certainly fine for others dying for them.” 

“Amanai Riko.” 

“Huh?”

“That was her name. The Star Plasma Vessel.” 

“Right.” Si-woo shifted a bit in the awkward silence. “Look, I’ll put you on the latest date and we’ll deal with it as it comes, okay? Just focus on the girls now.” 

“Okay.” 

Si-woo hung up and leaned back in his chair, stretching out languidly until he paused. 

He just… did that. He just gave child rearing advice to Geto Suguru. That certainly broke the bounds of professionalism. 

He just really hoped that Geto didn’t see this as a further reason to imprint on him. Dealing with Megumi was hard enough now.   

Nanako, in fact, did not get better by the date of the meeting with the Star Religious Group, and Geto was freaking the fuck out. 

Si-woo, while that was happening, texted Fushiguro, asking if she wouldn’t mind two extra children, one of whom was sick, on the playdate.

why, Fushiguro texted. 

Their caretaker has a meeting and the babysitter bailed. 

this caretaker become one like how you became one for megumi? 

Si-woo did not respond to that, texting instead, Megumi already knows them. 

fine, Fushiguro texted back, and Si-woo looked up at Geto, who was still having a mini breakdown. Good thing the children were in another room, and Megumi was still in Si-woo’s car. 

“I got someone to look after them,” Si-woo said, and Geto stopped talking immediately. “They are a non-sorcerer, though.” 

Disgust settled on Geto’s face. Si-woo shrugged. 

“Fine, jeopardize Nanako and Mimiko’s health and wellbeing because you can’t be bothered to let a non-sorcerer take care of them. They’re your kids, after all.” 

“Does the monkey know?” Geto gritted out. 

“About what?”

“Jujutsu.” 

“Yes,” Si-woo lied. 

“And they’re fine with it?”

“A lot of people happen to just be fine with jujutsu,” Si-woo said, but before Geto could get worked up, said, “Yeah.”

“Just for today,” Geto said, and Si-woo texted Fushiguro. 

If the girls (Mimiko and Nanako) say anything weird, ignore them. They’re a bit traumatized and their caretaker is also weird. 

im beginning to regret this. 

You already said you would do this. 

yeah yeah i know. 

“What was that?” Geto asked as Si-woo put away his phone. 

“I let them know that they should also take care of Mimiko and Nanako,” Si-woo said. “Come on, I’ll drive them over.” 

It was a very tense car ride, to say the least. The girls were lifted a bit out of their sullenness at Nanako being sick when they saw Megumi, and Megumi was glad to see them as well. 

“Megumi, if I drop you a few blocks away, can you walk them over?” Si-woo asked and Megumi nodded. 

“You’re not going to their place directly?”

Si-woo looked pointedly at Geto. 

“Ah, alright then,” said Geto, and let them leave.  

The meeting with the Star Religious Group… went. Si-woo could tell that at some points, Geto just wanted to lose it, but the plan had been to get into the group and in a high position without having to do paperwork, which meant not killing everyone to assume command. 

Besides, bloodstains would be a bitch to get out of their clothes, and they had to pick the kids up afterwards. 

Geto was accepted after displaying some of his curses—which the group couldn’t see directly but they could see the effects of—and the group said that they would keep in touch. 

“You really need to contain your bloodlust better,” Si-woo said as they got into the car. “I get you hate them, but they’re not supposed to know that.” 

“They didn’t know that, though.” 

“They will if you spend any more time around them, which will be the case very soon,” Si-woo said. “If anything, just grit your teeth until you get stable and then get out of there.” 

“Is that what you did?”

“Excuse me?”

“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience, is all,” Geto said, shifting around in those ridiculous robes. Maybe if Geto hadn’t gotten dressed up for a group such as the Star Religious Group, Si-woo would have had more respect. But he didn’t quite like the group either, so anything that was done for them that was more than necessary, he really didn’t care for. 

“Eh, guess I did it once or twice,” Si-woo shrugged. “Everyone does, at one point. It’s how you get through a job, a class, or a social interaction that you don’t like. Just deal with it.” 

“When do you decide a good time to leave?”

No. No, Geto could not be asking him for advice again. Si-woo glanced at Geto and saw the man was looking right at him, waiting for a response. 

Shit. “Depends on your plans,” Si-woo said. “You want money and curses to get stable, I suppose. Once you reach that point, and what you want to do next doesn’t require them anymore, then you can drop them.” 

“And you’d still help?”

“The contract’s ongoing,” Si-woo said, and he hadn’t yet gotten paid. But he wouldn’t bring that up yet. “Hasn’t reached its fulfillment standard.” 

Si-woo pulled up a few houses away from Fushiguro’s. He’d rather not have Geto even know the neighborhood, but he didn’t feel great about making Nanako walk too much, especially since she was sick. 

“I’ll bring them over,” Si-woo said. “Wait in the car.” 

Geto wanted to protest, Si-woo could tell, but Si-woo closed the car door before he could say a word and briskly headed towards Fushiguro’s house. 

The woman wanted to talk to him about something, but Si-woo rushed the proceedings along so that soon enough, the kids were saying goodbye to Tsumiki and he was herding them down the street, back to the car. Nanako was sniffling, but she certainly wasn’t vomiting. 

“And I’ll drop you guys off now,” Si-woo said, because he really didn’t want to have to deal with prolonged conversation now. He dropped Geto and the girls off at the small apartment that they had rented—and wasn’t it great that Si-woo would no longer have to support them and start getting paid back—and then went slightly over the speed limit while getting back home. 

The only downside to it all was that Megumi, at a time when Si-woo really wanted quiet, was talkative. As much as Si-woo just wanted to tell him that he was tired, this was a side of Megumi that had barely been present, even before the reveal of Toji’s death. So he let Megumi talk him to death, and that night, it was Megumi who gave the bedtime story, not Si-woo. 

Maybe, Si-woo thought as he disguised his twentieth yawn in a row while Megumi was his version of animated, just maybe, things were getting better. 

Nevermind, they were getting worse. 

“They really enjoyed yesterday,” Geto said over the phone. “Why can’t the kids have another playdate?”

Because you want to kill non-sorcerers, which includes Mimiko and Nanako’s new friend, Si-woo wanted to say, but didn’t, because Megumi was having his breakfast right there. 

“Because of your opinion of non-sorcerers,” Si-woo settled for. 

“Well, then how about with just Megumi?”

“Is that Mr. Geto?” Megumi asked, and no. No, no, no, Megumi was not using honorifics for Geto when he had yet to do the same for Si-woo. 

Wait, had Megumi ever referred to him by name? Si-woo decided not to focus on that right now. 

“It’s work,” Si-woo said, and stepped into a hallway so he could have a bit of privacy. 

“Look,” Geto was saying, “I know your personal opinions mean that you don’t want to have a playdate between Megumi and the twins, but those are your feelings, not Megumi’s. So why can’t the kids have a playdate?” 

Si-woo took a deep breath to calm himself. At times like this, he could really understand that Geto was barely an adult. 

“Because I’m Megumi’s guardian,” Si-woo said, “which means I act in his best interest, and getting involved with you is not in his best interest. It’s not in the girls’ best interest because of your belief, and it certainly wouldn’t be good for them to get closer to Tsumiki only for you to do what you plan.” 

Geto was silent for a bit. “I… do not really have a plan.” 

Si-woo blinked. And then blinked again. “Excuse me?”

“There’s a lot of technical parts I haven’t thought out yet,” Geto grumbled. “So it won’t happen anytime soon because the plan isn’t entirely concrete.” 

“That’s a bit worse,” Si-woo said. “That only lets them get closer, which means it’ll hurt a whole lot more when the plan eventually happens.” 

“Well, non-sorcerers hurt them,” Geto said testily. “Am I supposed to just let them go free?”

Si-woo scratched his head. “Didn’t you kill everyone in that village?”

“... yeah.” 

“So who hurt Mimiko and Nanako that is also free?” 

“I thought you said that you weren’t going to convince me I’m wrong,” Geto said. 

“When did I specifically say that you were wrong?” Si-woo asked. “You have flaws in your logic, and I’m pointing them out, because you are my client and I’ve invested a lot in you. I don’t want that investment to fall through at the last minute.” 

“I’m working it out,” Geto gritted out. Si-woo hoped that Megumi’s teenage years wouldn’t be this bad. “You know what, I might not even kill all non-sorcerers, so I wouldn’t even touch Tsumiki.” 

Si-woo’s brain told him to shut up so this conversation could be over, but instead, he said, “Oh?”

“Well, people are needed to run the country,” Geto said, “and things would get a lot busier with most of the population dead. Figured it’d work like a vaccine. Kill enough and there would still be loose cursed energy, but not enough to cause a problem. A bit like how you said it was for you, growing up.” 

“I suppose that’s an idea.” 

“That’s all you have to say? You’re supposed to be my counselor.” 

“Counselor for how the underground works,” Si-woo corrected. “If you want a task manager or something of the like, ask for a new contract. As is, though, I’m not going to help you plan your massacre, and the kids can not have a playdate.” 

Si-woo hung up before Geto could respond. Hopefully, that would be the last of it. 

It was not the last of it. It was really not the last of it. Not only did Geto keep hinting at Si-woo, but Fushiguro called. 

“You know, Tsumiki misses Mimiko and Nanako,” she said. 

“Not you too,” Si-woo grumbled, crumpling onto the couch. Megumi shot him a look from where he was watching the television. Some Korean drama was playing and that… certainly led to a weird feeling. 

Si-woo knew that Korean media was getting a lot more popular, but it was strange to see it playing now, when Si-woo had arrived in Japan only a few years after the law that required Zainichi Koreans to divulge their identities to the public was repealed. 

How the times change. And how they didn’t change at all, because it was only because Si-woo had made himself indispensable to some fairly powerful people who wouldn’t care that he wasn’t Japanese or at least, hated people indiscriminately, that he had recently corrected his file. 

There was also the added benefit that the only one in his non-work life who knew he was Korean was Megumi, which meant that if anyone tried to track him down, they would think twice before pinning someone who was Japanese as their Korean target. 

“Are you going to be loud?” Megumi asked, eyes glued back onto the screen. Which was something that would have to change, because excess time on a screen was not good. He had just stopped Megumi from searching all over the internet for pet shit. He did not need that to be replaced by Korean dramas, even if it cost a lot less than Megumi buying stuff. 

“Got the message,” Si-woo whispered, getting up reluctantly and into a hallway so Megumi could watch in peace. The kid was really getting spoiled. 

“Well, if Mr. Geto wants to have a playdate as well, I don’t see why not,” Fushiguro was saying, and Si-woo almost lost it at Fushiguro calling Geto Mr. Geto. He consoled himself with the fact that Fushiguro hadn’t actually met Geto. If she had, she would not be calling him that. 

“Look, remember Toji’s secret life that you didn’t know about?” Si-woo said. 

“The hitman thing?”

“Yeah. Geto has one of those, too.” 

“He’s a hitman?”

Maybe Si-woo would just hang up and go watch the kdrama with Megumi. That sounded fun. 

“No, a secret life. Though he has also killed people,” Si-woo said. Lots of them, he didn’t add. 

“And why do you know so many killers?” Fushiguro asked. “Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know. Did he—uh—was it for a good reason? You know, like self-defense?”

“... He thinks it was for a good reason,” Si-woo settled with. 

“Would he hurt Tsumiki? Or me, I guess?”

Si-woo took a moment to stare at the phone. “That’s the only thing you’re concerned about?” he asked, baffled. “You’re not screaming to get away?”

“The twins aren’t him,” Fushiguro said. “And Tsumiki really misses them and Megumi—she’s been having a harder time making close friends, and I don’t want to take the ones she has away from her.” 

Si-woo used to think that he was fairly unique in his utter amorality. Yeah, he still had lines that could be crossed, but he could still excuse most things without losing sleep. Everything was a job to him. And considering that he didn’t grow up in the jujutsu world, unlike a lot of his colleagues, he figured that he was just pretty out of the ordinary. 

Except now there was Fushiguro, and while she didn’t know the extent of Geto’s killings, she was very easily excusing what she did know. Which really made him wonder what her excuse was. 

“Besides,” Fushiguro added, “you’ve let the girls near Megumi, so there must be some degree of safety if you’ve done that.” 

“Megumi’s situation is different from Tsumiki’s.”

“How so?”

“I’m taking care of Megumi, and Geto is my client, so if he doesn’t want to piss me off, he won’t touch Megumi.” 

“Except he can take you down too, can’t he?” Si-woo didn’t say anything. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” 

“How did you know?”

“I know Toji. I’ve met you. If Geto is among Toji’s caliber, then you’re no match for him.” 

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Si-woo said drily. “Incidentally, Toji beat Geto up pretty badly once. If he was still alive, he’d still win in a fight with Geto.” 

“What.” 

“In Toji’s last job, he ran up against Geto,” Si-woo said. “And beat him up, like I said.” 

“... who killed Toji, then?”

“Geto’s friend,” Si-woo said. “Though I suppose that they wouldn’t be friends anymore, considering Geto’s murder spree.” 

“Murder spree?” Fushiguro sounded faint. 

“I told you Geto killed a lot of people.” 

“Would he hurt me or Tsumiki?”

“Initially, he would have, yes,” Si-woo said. “He wouldn’t have targeted you specifically but if given the chance, he would have killed you. But since Mimiko and Nanako like Tsumiki, he’s revising his plans.” 

“That’s terrifying.” 

“Yup,” Si-woo said. 

“Wait,” Fushiguro said. “If he only started to change his mind after the playdate, why did you ask me to look after the girls? What if they had a terrible time and complained to their murder guardian?”

“I have confidence in you,” Si-woo said. “Besides, he’s been chipping away at his terrible logic for a while now and I really did not want there to be children in a place where he could lose his cool and kill someone.” 

“Did he kill someone?”

“No.” Si-woo noted the pause. “Regretting asking for a playdate now?” 

“No,” Fushiguro said. “Tsumiki still misses them and the girls are not their father.”

Si-woo couldn’t help it. He choked at that. 

“What’s wrong?” Fushiguro asked. 

“You called Geto a father.” 

“Am I wrong?”

Si-woo winced. “Well… I think he’s more of an older brother figure. He’s too young to be a dad.” 

“Wait, how old is he?”

“Seventeen or something.” 

Si-woo heard a clatter. He assumed the phone must have dropped. 

“He’s a mass murderer and he’s only seventeen?”

Si-woo shrugged. 

“You—you need to explain all of this,” Fushiguro said. “Not over the phone, but sometime soon. In person. Because I kept from prying about your job, what you do exactly, but this is a bit too much.” 

“You could also just never have a playdate with Mimiko and Nanako,” Si-woo suggested. 

“But you might, and I don’t want Tsumiki getting mixed up in that.” 

“I’m not having Megumi have a playdate with Mimiko and Nanako,” Si-woo said. 

“He might not give you a choice.” 

Which… was true. 

“You did say that you’d tell me what this was all about one day,” Fushiguro reminded him and that… wasn’t wrong. Shit. 

“I got work,” Si-woo said, “but—how about this weekend? We could go to your place, let the kids play and I’ll… tell you.” 

“I like the sound of that,” Fushiguro said. 

They talked a bit more to set a time, and afterwards, Si-woo trudged his way back into the living room. 

Megumi was still watching the drama. Si-woo flopped onto the couch next to him. “What’s this?”

“Evasive Inquiry Agency,” Megumi said. 

Si-woo didn’t know that one. Then again, he stopped keeping up with shows the moment he decided that he was moving to Japan after high school. 

Si-woo almost asked Megumi what it was about, but considering how invested he looked in it, Si-woo decided it was best not to disturb. Instead, he just started to watch it with him, even though this seemed to be the sixth or something episode. Only when it was starting to get late did he shepherd Megumi towards bed. 

After Megumi was asleep, Si-woo decided to search the drama up. It seemed interesting. 

Then Si-woo caught his eye on the age label—for those aged fifteen and up. 

Oops. But it couldn’t hurt too much. Si-woo had accidentally watched an R rated movie when he was eight and he turned out fine. 

Well, he wasn’t fine, but that wasn’t because of the movie. 

… Still, he decided that he’d check in, now and again, just to make sure the show wasn’t showing anything too graphic. 

“Mr. Kong!” 

Si-woo didn’t feel despair, not anymore. He was too far gone for it all. 

Mimiko and Nanako raced up to him and Megumi, and for a moment, Si-woo thought it was just a coincidence that the girls were here when Megumi wanted to go to this playground. Si-woo had indulged him this one time, since he knew the men Zen’in Naobito hired were in Okinawa. 

Then he saw the gleam in the girls’ eyes and knew this was a plan they had hatched up somehow. They probably talked over it the last time they met. 

Megumi was looking up at him, and Si-woo had to admit defeat. He had tried. He did his best. But even Si-woo couldn’t refuse a playdate when literally everyone was badgering him for it. Maybe Toji could’ve been a stricter parent, but Si-woo wasn’t. 

Then again, Toji could have just killed Geto. Si-woo did not have that capability. 

“Fine,” Si-woo said, and the kids were already racing off. Megumi’s hands came together and Si-woo didn’t even have the time to open his mouth before Black and White were there. Mimiko and Nanako were squealing, and soon enough, Mimiko was hanging off of Black, Nanako off of White. 

Geto shifted. “That’s—”

“Don’t say a word,” Si-woo said, and Geto actually listened. Soon enough, though, Si-woo got tired of the silence. “Did you know of their plan?”

“... They had a plan?”

“Duh,” Si-woo said. “Kids are devious.” 

“I just thought they really liked this place,” Geto said. “They haven’t been comfortable in many places.” 

Right, because these were the trauma twins. They had been stuck in a cage or something, if Si-woo remembered Geto’s breakdown correctly. 

“You going to wear those robes everywhere?” Si-woo asked. 

“Well, I did just come from work,” Geto said. “Oh, that reminded me of something I wanted to ask you.” 

Great. Si-woo was just supposed to have a nice time watching Megumi play at the playground and work was intruding in that time. He really shouldn’t have expected anything better, but he sure as hell would continue to complain about this. 

“How do I enroll Mimiko and Nanako in school?” 

For a moment, Si-woo thought about just giving a quick explanation and letting Geto figure it out before deciding that it was too much work. 

“I’ll forge some papers and register them in a school that you choose,” Si-woo said. 

“Why forge?”

“Because they’re probably missing person cases since you killed that entire village and their bodies aren’t there?” 

Geto stiffened and maybe, just maybe, if Geto got this bothered every time Si-woo brought it up, he shouldn’t have killed all those people. 

“Don’t worry about it,” Si-woo said. “It’s fairly easy to bypass security measures, especially since they’re so young.”

“Did you do the same for Megumi?”

“Yeah,” he said. 

For a moment, they just sat there, watching the kids play fetch. They were far enough away from other kids that no one would likely notice the fact that the sticks the kids were throwing were all coming back. 

“He could be very powerful,” Geto said. 

“If this is a ploy to train him or otherwise spend more time with him, it’s not happening,” Si-woo said bluntly. 

“You’re attached.”

“Of course I’m fucking attached,” Si-woo snapped. “I’ve been taking care of him for a while now. Did you expect me to hate him?”

“No, it’s just—” Geto paused. “I don’t know. I heard people say you were the closest to Zen’in, but it didn’t sound like you were close enough for… this.” 

Si-woo didn’t say anything. 

“Were you—uh—that close?” Geto asked, and it sounded like he was insinuating something. Si-woo didn’t know what it was though. 

“Why do you care?”

“My—Satoru was my friend,” Geto said. “And he… you know…” 

“And you’d apologize for him?” Si-woo asked. Geto nodded and Si-woo snorted. “That’s not how apologies work. Besides, if anyone deserves an apology for Toji’s death, it’s Megumi. Maybe the woman he was going to marry, as well.” Si-woo turned to Geto. “Why are you interested, anyway? You hate Toji.” 

“Sons aren’t their fathers,” Geto said. “Though it would be ironic if Zen’in’s son joined me.”

Si-woo shot Geto a look. 

“Anyways, you’re not too bad,” Geto said. “I’d kind of feel bad if I hurt you now.” 

Si-woo didn’t know what that said about him, that a mass murderer thought he “wasn’t too bad.”  

“I’ve—uh—also been thinking more about the plan,” Geto said, studiously not looking at him. “The Star Religious Group has branches outside of the country, because they want to bring more followers to Japan. That’d be a prime opportunity to see what other places are like. You know, figuring out the source of the problem.” 

“Researching is good.” 

“Yeah,” Geto said, gaining a bit more speed in his voice. “Besides, even if I don’t find anything, I’m fairly certain I won’t go with the whole ‘killing everyone’ route.”

That… was a new development. “Really?” Si-woo asked. 

Geto nodded. “It hardly mattered with that village, because they were isolated, but eliminating people all across Japan, even if it’s the minimum to reach a stable state, would only cause more problems. Kind of like what you mentioned with the Star Religious Group. I could just kill them to get to the top, but then I’d have to do the leading and work for a lot more than I do now. And I get what I want in both cases. So that’s the last resort.” 

“Good for you,” Si-woo said, because how else was he supposed to respond? 

“So can they have an official playdate now? Maybe with Tsumiki, too?”

Si-woo, the grown, adult man that he was, buried his head in his hands and groaned. 

Geto, surprisingly, laughed. 

“Did you mean that seriously?” Si-woo asked. 

“A bit,” Geto said. “But it’s fun to mess with you.” 

“No—the plan.” 

“Oh that. Yeah.” Geto was looking elsewhere again. 

“Seems a better one than before, at least,” Si-woo said. “And no, no playdate for now.”

“But there might be one eventually.”

Si-woo elected not to answer. Geto, though, was smiling a bit.  

“Other people will be after him,” Geto said, smile dimming. “That’s Ten Shadows he has—the Zen’in clan will be itching to get their hands on him. Gojo clan will also be interested in another Ten Shadows user.”

“You’re concerned over my kid? That sounds like you care,” Si-woo asked and Geto got a bit red in the ears. “Anyways, I know. I was in contact with the Zen’in’s over the bounty.” 

“Then why are you out now?”

“The men they hired are in Okinawa.” 

“It could be a diversion,” Geto said. “You know, like what you did to us.” 

“Kid, I know my stuff,” Si-woo said. “Your concern is… honestly kind of weird. I’ve got this handled. I’ve been handling this before you entered the scene.” 

“It’s just—”

“What?” Si-woo turned to look at Geto. “I don’t have a cursed technique?” 

“Yeah,” Geto said. “You can’t do anything if they decide to attack you head on. You’re vulnerable.” 

Si-woo couldn’t believe his ears. “I’ve been doing this job for about over a decade. Trust me when I say that I’ve got this.” 

“But—”

Si-woo lifted his hand up. “I am not going to listen to anything else that comes out of your mouth if it has to do with my supposed vulnerability.” 

That didn’t dissuade Geto. He went on a whole rant about how Si-woo could easily be attacked and Si-woo was reminded of the time his mom had to go to surgery for her back, back when he was twelve or so. Afterwards, he refused to let her carry anything, in case her back got bad again. 

This was karma, that was what this was. His mom had been pissed and now Si-woo was. 

“Would you look at that,” Si-woo said after half a minute. “It’s getting too close to dinnertime. Megumi and I have really got to be going.” 

He did not wait for Geto’s response. 

Things only got weirder, if possible. Geto left a voicemail apologizing if he had offended his feelings, but Mr. Kong, you’re being too open, which will only lead to danger and—

Blah, blah, blah. Si-woo deleted the voicemail and decided to distance himself. This was what breaches in professionalism got him—unintended insults and playdates. At least what breaches in professionalism with Toji brought were easier to avoid. 

“You’re going to have a playdate over the weekend,” Si-woo said at dinner, before Megumi could look at him and hint at his time with Mimiko and Nanako. “It’s with Tsumiki.”

Megumi was quietly delighted for the rest of the day, which put Si-woo in a good mood. They watched some Evasive Inquiry Agency that evening and Si-woo could almost forget Geto’s weird concern. 

Almost. 

Just to stick it to the kid, he checked up on the people that Zen’in Naobito had hired. Most were still in Okinawa, though a couple were heading back. Probably had realized that checking out one of the last places that Toji had been in wasn’t yielding much. 

Si-woo huffed and went to sleep. Geto, he thought, should really worry more about himself. 

Honestly, Si-woo got work done a lot quicker without the extra conversations with Geto. It made his other clients’ work a bit less stressful since he wasn’t worried about what new drama Geto would bring. It also meant he spent less time on Geto’s case—he forged the papers for Mimiko and Nanako’s schooling, oversaw the technical aspects of Geto’s employment, and that was essentially it. 

A part of him—the part that was going soft—felt bad for just ignoring everything not related to work that Geto brought up in calls, but Si-woo had to set boundaries. 

“You were a bit right,” Si-woo said as he settled down at Fushiguro’s table. The kids were in Tsumiki’s room. Apparently she had a new game she wanted to share. “I was strong-armed into a playdate.” 

Fushiguro looked frightened, so Si-woo clarified, “I think the kids planned it. Mimiko and Nanako were frequenting a playground and Megumi asked to go there, and then an accidental playdate happened.” 

“Kids are devious,” Fushiguro said, and Si-woo nodded. 

“Nothing like that’s going to happen in the future, though,” Si-woo said. “I just ignore Geto when he talks about anything not work related now.” 

“And you didn’t before?” Fushiguro asked. 

Si-woo winced. “It’s… complicated.” 

Fushiguro raised her brows. “Sure it is. Now, mind telling me what the whole deal with everything is?”

Fushiguro took the news exceedingly well. Frightfully well, actually. Either something was up with her, which seemed to be the case if the way that she reacted to Geto was any indication, or she was in shock. 

“How dangerous is Ten Shadows?” Fushiguro said, getting up to pour herself a cup of tea. That… really did not quite look like she was in shock. For a moment, Si-woo thought that he was a hypocrite, considering his reaction to seeing curses was to make it his career and hop off to Japan, but he made that decision when he was a teenager and was stuck with it. Fushiguro was supposed to be stable. 

“I suppose it could be dangerous,” Si-woo said. “He’s only been summoning them as pets, and I told him not to summon the bigger ones.”

“Like Nue?”

“He mentioned an elephant as well,” Si-woo said. He paused, and added, “You’re taking this really well.” 

“How else am I supposed to take it?”

Si-woo shrugged. “Denial? Disbelief? Questioning your framework for life?”

“You’re a reasonable man,” Fushiguro said. “You wouldn’t lie about something this big. It’d be too much work and you’re efficient.” 

“That makes it sound like you’re calling me lazy.” 

“Would you construct an elaborate and thought out lie to deceive the mother of your kid’s best friend?”

“If there was no other option,” Si-woo admitted. “Though then, moving away would just be easier.”

“Exactly. And besides,” Fushiguro said, “it makes more sense for all… that to be true. Unless you’ve been lying to me from the beginning, I wouldn’t believe Toji being a hitman, Geto a mass murderer, and you being whatever you are without some hint of it in the news. Like, you know, assassinations or the town that Geto massacred. If there’s a society that was uniquely affected by Toji and that covered up the town… that makes more sense.” 

“You’re still too cool about all of this,” Si-woo muttered. 

“Once again, how else should I respond?” Fushiguro said. “You want me to scream and bring the kids in here?” 

“Fair point,” Si-woo said. “How’s your job going, by the way?”

“Makes me wish I had yours,” Fushiguro said, darkly. “Then it’d be more acceptable for me to kill people.” 

Once upon a time, Si-woo had thought that Megumi was causing the most problems in his life. He hadn’t minded much at the time, because Megumi was Megumi, and he was a bit sentimental now. 

Unfortunately, the problem-causer torch passed to Geto. And Si-woo very much minded this time. 

It started not long after Geto enrolled Mimiko and Nanako in school—a different school than Tsumiki and Megumi, of course. Geto, at first, seemed a bit disquieted. Si-woo had brushed it aside, since he was setting up boundaries and everyone got a bit of anxiety when sending kids off to school for the first time. Sometimes Si-woo still got it, but granted, it was because there was always a chance for the Zen’ins to find Megumi. 

Then Geto started snapping more at work and Si-woo had to come up with excuse after excuse for why the Star Religious Group’s new asset was throwing a temper tantrum. 

But hey, that was fine. He dealt with bigger babies as clients. Geto’s outbursts were minor, especially considering the fact that the Star Religious Group really liked Geto.  

Somehow, though, things had escalated. And Geto had actually attacked someone. In the Star Religious Group’s leadership to boot. 

It was a mess to handle, but Si-woo was among the best for a reason, and soon enough, the group was assuaged—the victim was only hurt, not dead—and it was just Si-woo and Geto, who was brooding. 

“You got to pull yourself together,” Si-woo said. “I get that you don’t like them, but you agreed to this job for a reason.”

Geto did not respond. If this was some sort of revenge for Si-woo putting up boundaries, he might just quit on the spot. 

Sighing, Si-woo said, “Is something wrong?” 

Still no response. 

“Geto.” Nothing. Si-woo got closer so that Geto would have to see him. “Geto Suguru,” Si-woo said, enunciating each syllable. “What is the problem?”

“I—can’t,” Geto said. A whisper of a voice, really. “I can’t, I—”

Suddenly, Geto lunged forward, and Si-woo found himself being fiercely latched onto. 

“I can’t,” Geto hissed, slamming his head onto Si-woo’s shoulder. Si-woo caught his head, because he did not need anyone treating him like a brick wall to bash their brains out on. Geto seemed to want to say a million things, but his mouth just opened once more before closing into a firm line. 

Geto also looked exceptionally close to tears. 

So, Si-woo had a Grade S curse user having a breakdown right on him. Si-woo had dealt with a lot of situations in his life, but he didn’t even know how to begin to approach this. Geto’s head slipped from his grasp and before Si-woo knew it, Geto was hugging him, head buried in the crook between his shoulder and neck. If Geto wasn’t crying already, he would be very soon. 

This was his own fucking fault for not setting boundaries up sooner. Or for having a teenager as a client. 

… That was a thought. If he viewed Geto as just a kid, then he could see a way out of this. He had quite the experience with kids, after all. 

“How about we get in the car so we can get out of here?” Si-woo asked, carefully patting Geto’s back. “It’s lunch time. We can get some food. How does that sound?”

There was a slight nod against his shoulder. Si-woo would not think about what it meant that this was working. 

“You’re going to have to let go of me first, though,” Si-woo said and Geto’s grip only got tighter. 

Well, then. 

Si-woo could have tried to talk Geto out of his death grip, but he really did not have the patience. Instead, he picked Geto up. Which was incredibly awkward, not only because Geto was still unresponsive, but because the guy was as tall as Si-woo and likely heavier. 

The things that Si-woo did. He’d have to brush it aside later, or maybe he’d take advantage of Geto’s murderous tendencies and get him to kill anyone that witnessed this. 

Luckily, Si-woo hadn’t parked too far away, and soon enough, Si-woo was just trying to wrestle Geto’s grip off his shirt so he could close the car door. 

“You’ve got to let go of me if you want to get food and calm down,” Si-woo said. Maybe he’d just break Geto’s fingers, because at this rate, Geto would just tear into his shirt. “I’m not going to be leaving.”

Geto’s grip became a bit more relaxed, and soon enough, Si-woo was slamming the door and racing to the driver’s seat. 

As he buckled on his seat belt, he looked back and realized that Geto did not have his on. And he was not putting it on. 

… Si-woo was not going to get close enough to reinitiate that death grip. Geto wouldn’t die in a car accident, anyways. 

As he drove, he wondered where in hell he was going to bring Geto. A public place would not work at all, and Si-woo was not taking him home. 

Si-woo settled for a McDonald’s drive-through. When it was his turn, he asked Geto what he wanted, but only received a low groan-cry, so Si-woo just got Geto the same order as his. 

After getting the food, he found a place to park and then tossed the food back at Geto, who just managed to catch it. Si-woo winced at the way Geto fumbled with the food, knowing he would have to clean his car out after this. 

“Eat,” Si-woo said. “Oh yeah, here’s some soda too. Not the best, but I guess it’ll get your blood sugar up.” 

Geto ate very mechanically. Si-woo gave him the time to unwind, enjoying his own food. Or enjoying it as much as he could considering fast food was not his food of choice and Geto could go apeshit at any moment. 

“Is this another thing I need to pay you back on?” Geto’s voice came out of nowhere, and Si-woo almost choked on his water. 

“Ah? No,” Si-woo said. “This once, you don’t have to worry about it.” 

Geto nodded and Si-woo sneaked a look at him. He looked a lot more… present than before. 

“How—how did I get here?” Geto asked, and Si-woo bet it was killing him to ask that question. 

“Do you remember attacking a guy at your job?” Si-woo asked. 

“Vaguely.” 

“I came to calm down the group, you were unresponsive—” and freaking the fuck out, Si-woo didn’t add, “—so I brought you around to have food so you could snap out of it.” 

“Ah.” 

No “thank you.” No “sorry.” Whatever, this job was a bit of a thankless one, anyway. 

“Look,” Si-woo said, “I’m not your therapist or anything, but I can tell you’ve got at least one issue going on. And that’s been interfering with your work, which is my responsibility. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” 

Si-woo raised a brow, but Geto looked at him coolly, like he hadn’t been holding onto Si-woo or carried by him. Then again, Geto probably didn’t remember that. 

“Alright,” Si-woo said. “If that’s how you want to go about it, then I’ll have to do some figuring out. You’re dealing with the pressure of something that you feel like you can’t handle. Since you’re taking care of two kids, are a fugitive, and have a job with a group you hate, that’s understandable, but it probably runs deeper. You mentioned before that you want to make a change, so that’s another pressure you’ve been putting on yourself. I’m guessing that your trust in yourself has decreased dramatically with the lack of substantial and logical plans, though considering how much you hate ‘monkeys,’ I think part of it was spurred on by Toji, since he beat you down pretty bad.” 

Si-woo studied Geto. He was not looking well. “That’s the tip of it. Am I right?”

“Why don’t you go back to not caring?” Geto said. “Just do your job.” 

“Well, my job is partially connected to you, so I need to make sure you don’t fuck anything up,” Si-woo said.

Geto didn’t say anything and Si-woo chewed on a french fry. He really missed cigarettes. 

“Have a sullen fit, then,” Si-woo said, downing the last of his water, trying to figure out what to do next. He wanted to just dump Geto out, but Geto was not in any state to take care of himself. That would be horrendous for Mimiko and Nanako. 

Si-woo let out a long sigh when he realized his best course of action. Part of him wondered if Geto had purposely engineered his breakdown like this. 

Geto’s having a breakdown, he texted Fushiguro reluctantly. Do you mind taking Megumi, Mimiko, and Nanako for the evening? I’m going to try to continue to calm Geto down. 

It took a few minutes to get a response. a breakdown. 

I had to carry him to the car. He was not responding. 

did he kill anyone

No. Just injured a person at work, but that was the extent of it. Can’t take care of anyone at this time, though. 

i don’t like this. 

Neither do I. 

fine. you owe me so much.

“Alright,” Si-woo said. “The plan is that you’re going to cool down, we’ll pick the kids up and drop them off with Tsumiki and her mom for the evening and you’ll spend that time calming down.”

“No.” 

“No?” Si-woo asked. 

“I don’t want Mimiko and Nanako under the care of a stranger.” 

“You were this close to killing a person,” Si-woo said. “You’re not fit to be around children.” 

“Then what about you?”

“Well, I have to take care of you,” Si-woo said. “Which means I can’t be watching kids at the same time. Mimiko and Nanako already know her. It’ll be fine.” 

“I don’t,” Geto said. “I don’t know her. I want to meet her.” 

Si-woo eyed Geto. “Are you going to kill her?”

“... No.” 

“That took too long,” Si-woo said. 

“I promise I won’t kill her.” 

“Or hurt her?” Si-woo added, since maiming Fushiguro was a bit out of the question. 

“Yeah, that too.” 

“Geto.” 

“I promise I won’t hurt or kill her,” Geto said. “I just want to meet her.” 

“I’ll check with her then,” Si-woo said, ignoring Geto’s outraged yell of, “What was all that about then?” 

He wants to meet you. I already made him promise not to hurt or kill you. 

A few minutes later, a response came. why.

Why what?

why does he want to meet me?

“Why do you want to meet her?” Si-woo asked. 

“She’s going to be looking after my—Mimiko and Nanako,” Geto said. “It’s responsible to know who children are around, if they’re under your care.”

He’s trying to be responsible (meeting people who are taking care of his kids, etc.)

ugh fine

Si-woo raised his brows. Really?

i’m a bit curious about the 17 y/o mass murderer. 

That’s concerning

rich coming from you. you work with him.

Which, you know, was fair. 

“You can meet her,” Si-woo said, shutting his phone off. “But after that, we’re going to address whatever’s making you like this.” 

Geto crossed his arms and looked out the window, like a petulant child. Actually, not like a petulant child because Megumi was better behaved than this. 

“Also,” Si-woo added as he turned the car back on, “put on your seatbelt.” 

They had to go back to Geto’s place to pick up Mimiko and Nanako’s car seats, and the car drive there and then to school was exceptionally quiet. Si-woo was fine with it. They picked Mimiko and Nanako up first, and then Si-woo drove over to pick Megumi up. 

The car, which had previously been fairly quiet, exploded when Megumi came in. It was funny how loud quiet kids could become when put next to each other. 

“We’re also going to Tsumiki’s house,” Si-woo added, and the kids were beaming. And then they erupted into talking and small fits of laughter. 

That was good, Si-woo supposed. Good that they were laughing and happy. 

Si-woo snuck a peak at Megumi in the rearview mirror. His mouth was slightly upturned, and it was obvious he was trying to fight a big smile from appearing. 

That… that made Si-woo think. Megumi hadn’t been that happy in a while. It wasn’t like he was miserable—Megumi was usually pleased after school, because he got to see Tsumiki, and he also liked spending time watching a show with Si-woo or playing with Black and White. But this degree of happiness really only came when he got to be with all of his friends. Which, of course, hadn’t happened much at all. 

Si-woo would have to look into that and get Megumi more socialization, despite the fact that the Zen’in-hired men were all over Japan now. Zen’in Naobito was getting a bit desperate, and it would be funny if Si-woo didn’t have Megumi. 

Geto remained quiet during the ride, only speaking when Mimiko or Nanako wanted to ask something of him. Which seemed to be stabilizing him a bit, or at least, Si-woo really hoped so, because he did not want to deal with a dead or maimed Fushiguro. 

“We’re here,” Si-woo said, and he and Geto started to help the kids out of their car seats. That was when Si-woo remembered that Geto was still in the robes. A part of Si-woo wondered exactly how many other clothes Geto had. Hardly enough, it seemed, since the robes were all that he wore nowadays. 

Megumi was about to race ahead when Si-woo caught his hand. 

“Careful so you don’t trip,” Si-woo said. “And wait for Mimiko and Nanako.” 

Megumi pouted, but waited until Mimiko and Nanako were free of their seats, and then they all sped-walked to the door. 

Now just came the hardest part. 

Trying to seem as nonchalant and unconcerned about this as possible, he led Geto over. The kids were already knocking by the time they caught up, so Fushiguro got to open the door and first get quickly greeted by small children who then raced inside and then see a mass murderer. 

Si-woo decided to start on introductions. 

“This is—” ah shit, Si-woo still didn’t know Fushiguro’s first name “—Tsumiki’s mother.” 

“Seriously, Kong?” Fushiguro asked, snapping out of her wary gaze.

“I still don’t trust him,” Si-woo said. “He already knows Tsumiki’s name. And your address now. No need to give him even more information.” 

“Fair point,” Fushiguro said and then nodded at Geto. “You can call me Fushiguro. And you’re Geto?” 

“Geto Suguru, yeah.” Geto looked over to Si-woo as if to say, Look, I’m not afraid to give out my full name. 

“You should’ve just gone with Geto,” Si-woo said. 

“Didn’t you say that you trust her?” Geto asked, tensing. Shit. 

“I do,” Si-woo said, and boy, that was embarrassing to say in front of Fushiguro, “but I don’t want you to build that into a habit.” 

“I can take anyone who comes after me.” 

“Sure, but your name is connected to the twins,” Si-woo said. “You can’t watch them twenty four-seven.” 

Fushiguro cleared her throat. “Do you… want to come inside? Or did you just want to meet me?”

Before Si-woo could answer and rush Geto away, Geto opened his mouth and said, “We’ll come in.” 

Si-woo mouthed, “Sorry,” over at Fushiguro. 

They took their shoes off, and Geto looked around. “Where are the kids?”

“Tsumiki’s room, probably,” Fushiguro said. “Do you want tea?”

“Yes,” Si-woo answered, and Geto just nodded. While Fushiguro went to the kitchen, Si-woo turned to Geto. 

“So?”

“So what?” Geto asked. 

“You’re the one who wanted to meet her. You satisfied?” 

“I want tea,” Geto said and Si-woo had to refrain from groaning. He did not need Geto acting moody. 

“Well, don’t try anything,” Si-woo said. “I’d get very pissed if you do.” 

“I got it, alright?” Geto snapped. “I’m not going to hurt or kill anyone. You don’t have to treat me like a ticking fucking timebomb.” 

Si-woo’s brows raised. “Alright,” he said after a moment. Geto nodded sharply, and then looked like he didn’t know what to do with himself. 

Thankfully, Fushiguro came in with the tea then, and Si-woo could pretend that he was drinking away all of his troubles. It also helped him ignore the incredibly awkward atmosphere, because Geto obviously didn’t have a game plan here, and Fushiguro had no idea how to proceed. 

Si-woo was about to end the silence that had settled when his phone rang. Loudly. Si-woo pulled it out and pulled a face.  

“I have to take this, unfortunately,” Si-woo said, staring at the contact labelled, Zen’in Fuckface. “You two will be fine?”

“Yes,” Fushiguro said. “Let us know if you need anything.” 

Si-woo nodded and went to the kitchen. 

“Yes?” Si-woo answered. 

“You’re a funny man,” Zen’in Naobito said, and Si-woo realized very quickly this would be another incident of trying not to commit homicide. “You also used to be better at answering your phone.” 

“As with the last time, you’re calling outside of hours,” Si-woo said. “And you haven’t scheduled an appointment.”

“Semantics.” 

“Well? Why are you calling, Zen’in?”

“You’re not a bad man, so I thought I’d give you a chance to explain yourself.”

Si-woo felt a sweat break out. Luckily for him, he had a great poker face and voice. “About what?”

“My men have noticed that you’ve been having some very irregular movements. You head to places during breaks, you purposely always make anyone following you lose your trail, and someone saw you at a playground.” 

“So?” Si-woo asked. “What I do outside of work is not anyone’s concern and I do have a private life. I don’t want that connected to work. In fact, I was not even aware that anyone was tailing me.” 

Which he hadn’t been. Good thing that he had the habit of taking paths to lose trails ingrained, but he really needed to be more careful from now on. 

“And the playground?” 

“I have to preserve client confidentiality,” Si-woo said. 

“That’s fine,” Zen’in said, “because I know that you were making a deal with Geto Suguru. Why was that?”

“What does the phrase client confidentiality imply, Zen’in?” Si-woo asked. 

“You know what he did?”

“It’s hard not to,” Si-woo said. “Why is this a concern of yours?”

“Well, I am a jujutsu sorcerer and Geto is a curse user.”

“And you, when signing your contract, agreed not to use any information you get from me about other people outside the specified contract for your own uses,” Si-woo said, “as well as agreeing that I am exempt from any persecution relating to any clients that I may or may not have.” 

That had been a definite plus of the Zen’in contract, even if Si-woo hated dealing with them. 

“True, I suppose,” Zen’in said. “He has kids?”

Si-woo didn’t respond. 

Zen’in sighed. “It was worth a shot. That wasn’t all that I called for though. I need you to check if something’s Toji’s or not.” 

Si-woo blinked. “You want me to verify if an item belonged to Zen’in Toji?”

“You’re the resident Toji expert,” Zen’in said. “Head over to your office soon so we can show you.” 

“I’m currently indisposed.” 

“Geto is too big of a threat to jujutsu society, so if I stop liking you, I will go back on the contract.” 

“I’m coming over.” 

Si-woo could almost feel Zen’in’s smile over the phone. He hated the smile, hated him. “Great. See you soon.” 

The call ended and Si-woo wished there was more tea. Or something stronger. He really wanted something stronger, but alas, he was supposed to be a responsible parent. 

“I got to go check on a client,” Si-woo said, as he came back from the kitchen. “Unfortunately. You’re not going to murder everyone if I leave you here, are you?”

“No, sir, ” Geto said, rolling his eyes, though there was an edge to his voice. Right. He got angry earlier at Si-woo’s insinuations towards his murderous rap. 

“Just go,” Fushiguro said, and Si-woo did, certain that he was really going to regret this. 

Si-woo was ruining his teeth with how much he was clenching them. To be fair, that was the only way that he was keeping himself from yelling out a slew of obscenities. There were really only two tolerable members of the Zen’in family, he decided. One was Megumi and the other one was dead.

The meeting had gone as it usually did at the start. Zen’in Naobito was there in the flesh, so Si-woo had to deal with the smell of alcohol. Zen’in was also incredibly annoying, per usual. 

And then he asked him to look at a variety of items—mostly weapons—and confirm if he had seen Toji with them. Si-woo had answered, and then Zen’in brought out a wolf plushie. It looked well used. 

“Toji never had toys,” Zen’in said, shaking the plushie around, “and based on your answers, all these items came from Toji’s safehouses. Still disbelieve in the kid?”

Zen’in threw the plushie at Si-woo, and as he caught it, all Si-woo could think of was that first meeting, when Megumi had a too large shirt and said that he and Toji had to leave the last safehouse too quickly, so he didn’t have anything on him. 

“Maybe he just got really invested in tricking you,” Si-woo said, throwing the toy back even though he wanted to grab it and run. “Or maybe he’s making up for his childhood. I don’t know.” 

“Funny,” Zen’in said. He was probably stinking that plushie up with the smell of alcohol. Si-woo would get it, carve that grin off of Zen’in’s face, and then wash the plushie so that it would be clean and stench-free when Megumi got to hold it again. “Anyways, you can head off now. We got Toji’s safehouses, so we’ll find the kid soon enough.” 

“I’m charging you extra for this,” Si-woo said, and then started down the street. His car was back at the office, but that was fine. He needed to lose the people who would no doubt be trailing him. 

A part of Si-woo wondered how long he could keep this up. Finding the safehouses was a pretty big step, and once they realized that Megumi wasn’t in any of them, no doubt they’d be checking for any place that checked in a kid and a man with Toji’s description in, as well as anyone who might have taken that kid out. 

The smart thing to do was end work-related ties with the Zen’in family. He had the backing for it, since he was only being kept on stand-by, not actually doing anything. The only problem was that they could threaten him through Geto. 

Si-woo really needed Geto to get everything together. The sooner he was independent, the sooner their contract could end and the Zen’in family wouldn’t be able to implicate Si-woo in anything relating to Geto. Then Si-woo could end the standing contract and figure out how to get the Zen’ins off Megumi’s trail permanently. 

Though, he supposed that the truly most important thing now was to make sure no one knew that he was visiting Toji’s fiance. 

By the time that Si-woo came back, it was a lot later than he had hoped. Perhaps that explained why he had to let himself into the house. Maybe Fushiguro thought he wasn’t coming back so she wasn’t going to go answer the door. Smart considering all the people asking after Megumi, but also annoying. 

But the moment Si-woo stepped foot in the house, he felt like there was something wrong. 

He could just leave. Come back later to pick Megumi up. It wasn’t like he was a hero or anything courageous like that. 

Still, he took off his shoes and tiptoed around the house. 

He found Fushiguro and Geto in the kitchen this time, the two of them sitting on the floor as Geto was sobbing and Fushiguro was just… comforting him? Geto’s head was on Fushiguro’s shoulder and she had an arm around him in a pseudo-hug. 

Si-woo couldn’t help it. He stared. Professionalism was dead and gone now. It had flown out the window long ago, but it was truly slaughtered and buried six feet under now. 

Fushiguro spotted him and mouthed something at him. Si-woo had no idea how people could actually lipread. It never worked out for him. 

“Tea,” Fushiguro hissed over Geto’s head. Geto… did not notice. Si-woo hoped this wasn’t just a repeat of when Geot had a breakdown on Si-woo. “And keep the kids out.” 

Si-woo did as he was told. The kids were playing in the yard outside. By playing, Si-woo meant that Megumi had summoned a new creature—something that looked a bit like an owl, so he assumed that that was Nue—who was catching kids that Mimiko was throwing with rope she had gotten from somewhere. Maybe it had to deal with her cursed technique. 

“Don’t kill yourselves!” Si-woo yelled out the door and received four affirmations. Really, was there anything he could do? 

He reflected as he made tea and decided that no, there wasn’t. 

Si-woo made three cups, though in his, he blended in a bit of whiskey. Sure, he had given up cigarettes and drinking was not going to become a regular thing, but he really, really needed some. Thank God that Fushiguro kept it around. 

“Tea’s here,” Si-woo said, carrying Fushiguro and Geto’s on a tray while he was already drinking his own horrible blend. 

Geto looked terrible, but he looked a bit more relaxed once he had some tea. 

“I don’t want to lose anyone else,” Geto said, continuing whatever had been happening as he looked down into his cup. “Haibara was sixteen. He’s only ever going to be sixteen now. And for what? ” 

“Loss is a part of life—”

“So why don’t we stop it? Why—” Geto cut himself off when Fushiguro shot him a look. Si-woo was a bit envious.

“It’s a part of life, and it’s not something that we can prevent,” Fushiguro said. “It’s painful, it hurts, and we can try to prevent it from happening, but there’s no way to make it an impossibility.” 

“Then what’s the point of doctors? Of safety equipment? People try to prevent it, anyways.” 

“Without costing the lives of others,” Fushiguro said. “I admit I don’t know everything about your world, but from what you’ve said, just getting rid of non-sorcerers isn’t going to help. I mean, I don’t want to die, but if cursed energy is created from negative emotions, doesn’t violent death contribute to that?” 

“I guess,” Geto said. 

“So it’s not the best strategy. Look, when I talked about loss, I didn’t mean to say that it’s okay and we shouldn’t ever try to prevent it. Yes, look two ways before crossing the street, take medications, all that, but that’s all within moderation, yes? We look before crossing and have crosswalks and laws instead of people getting hit all the time. It’s not perfect, but it works.”

Fushiguro pat Geto’s head. Si-woo was beyond being surprised at this point. “Besides, it sounds like the jujutsu society is a part of the problem. I know there aren’t many sorcerers, but why was there a misranking of that situation? Why do some of the higher ranked sorcerers sit around while you kids do the dangerous work? There are a lot of factors to Haibara’s death, more than just ‘a curse caught him off guard.’” 

“Why can’t anything be simple?” Geto asked into Fushiguro’s shoulder, and Fushiguro didn’t have an answer. They sat in silence, Si-woo sipping at his tea, when a shriek came from outside. 

“I can—” Si-woo started when Fushiguro shook her head. 

“I’ll take care of it,” Fushiguro said, shuffling out of Geto’s grasp, and gesturing to Si-woo to come over. 

Si-woo pretended not to get it. That just led to Fushiguro pulling him by the literal collar, right next to Geto. Geto didn’t seem to sense the awkwardness, just latching onto Si-woo. It was… a lot gentler than the breakdown earlier today. 

Damn. That had really happened today. It was still the same fucking day. 

“And talk,” Fushiguro said before leaving the kitchen. 

“Do you know what that means?” Si-woo asked. 

“She wants me to tell you stuff.” 

Si-woo waited. Nothing came. “Are you going to tell me this stuff?” 

“I don’t want to.” 

“But you will, because that is Fushiguro,” Si-woo said. “Come on, spit it out. Tear off the band-aid.” 

Geto was quiet for a bit, so Si-woo resigned himself to whistling a couple of tunes. He normally liked the quiet, but it was really going to kill him this time around. 

“You, uh,” Geto said, and Si-woo stopped his whistling, “uh. Hmm.” 

“You can say it,” Si-woo said, dread building inside of him. 

Geto muttered something so quietly and quickly that even though Geto’s head was literally on Si-woo’s shoulder, he couldn’t hear it. 

“Repeat that please.” 

“You hurt me,” Geto said in a rush. 

Si-woo blinked. And then blinked again. And then blinked a third time, because he, the one with no cursed technique, hurt Geto Suguru? 

Still, if Fushiguro wanted Geto to tell him this, there had to be something to it. She was usually a reasonable woman. 

“How?” 

“When you were giving me the silent treatment,” Geto said, sounding like he really didn’t want to be saying this. Si-woo didn’t want to hear this, but Fushiguro would kick both of their asses if they didn’t. And he was pretty sure that she could, which made him wonder if she was once a part of the yakuza. Her amorality would make a lot more sense that way.  

“Oh.” Si-woo scratched his head. “Sorry?”

“Don’t worry, it’s just me.” Geto started to shift away, but Si-woo held him in place. He was getting a bit curious. 

“Why were you hurt?” 

“I don’t have to tell you this.” 

“Sure,” Si-woo said, “but I’m also your counselor.” 

Geto shot him a look. “Didn’t you say you were only a counselor for the underground stuff?” 

Probably, but Si-woo wasn’t going to admit to that now. 

Geto let out an irritated sigh. “You’re… not bad.”

“There are a lot of not bad people out there.” 

“Fine,” Geto seethed. “I think you’re… pretty alright.” 

“There are a lot of—”

“I kind of like you,” Geto said, pushing away from him. This time Si-woo didn’t stop him, mainly because he did not expect that. 

“I’m too old for you,” Si-woo said automatically. “And not interested.” 

“Not in that way,” Geto scowled. “Just in a… general sense.”

Si-woo pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m going to make a few guesses here. Nod if I’m correct. You… see me as a familial figure.” 

A very hesitant nod. 

“You do not see me as a brother figure.” 

Another nod. 

Si-woo didn’t want to say this. He didn’t want the answer. “... You see me as a pseudo father figure.” 

Geto didn’t move, so for a moment, Si-woo internally rejoiced. 

Then Geto nodded. 

Si-woo refrained from asking that he not end up like Geto’s father. 

Geto gave him a side-eye. “I thought you’d be more upset.” 

“To be honest, I suspected,” Si-woo said. “Though I am only thirty. That’s not old enough to be a dad to a teenager.” 

“You’re only opposing this because of your age?”

“Mostly, yeah,” Si-woo said. “Also because Megumi is a handful by himself.”

“I thought the whole mass murdering deal really bothered you,” Geto said testily. 

“Oh, it does,” Si-woo said. “I don’t particularly like death or killing, but I can deal with either. I’ve been in the underground for over ten years now, after all. And like I’m pretty sure I’ve said before—I’ve dealt with more revolting characters than you.” 

Geto huffed, leaning back against the cabinets. Si-woo was glad to have his arms back to himself. 

“Why did you ignore me, then?” Geto asked. “If it wasn’t the killing that pushed you away.”

“You were getting too invested in my personal life,” Si-woo admitted. “Also, assuming that I can’t take care of myself was fairly insulting.” 

“Well, you don’t have a cursed technique,” Geto huffed. “You can get hurt easily.” 

“Is that concern?”

“No.” Except they both knew it was. It was kind of hard to pretend otherwise, when Geto admitted he saw Si-woo as a father figure. 

That was still so fucking strange, but Si-woo wasn’t going to dwell on that. 

“The last time I needed medical attention was when I was fourteen and fell off a tree,” Si-woo said bluntly. “I broke an arm. That was back in Korea. I’ve been fine since then.” 

“Yeah, because I bet Zen’in was taking care of anyone sent after your way.” 

Si-woo turned to Geto. “What.”

“You were partners, weren’t you?” Geto asked. “So he’d have watched your back.” 

“When we were on jobs, sure,” Si-woo said slowly, “but otherwise, we took care of ourselves.”  

Geto didn’t look convinced. 

“I can take care of myself,” Si-woo said. “And you didn’t respect that. That’s why I gave you the cold shoulder. If you continue to act like I can’t take care of myself, then I will go back to that.” 

Geto didn’t say anything and Si-woo shot him a look. “Geto, I need verbal confirmation here, because if you’re going to act like I’m a child, then I am leaving.” 

“Fine, you can take care of yourself,” Geto said. “And I never said you were a kid.” 

“Well, it could have easily turned infantilizing,” Si-woo said. “Just wanted to nip that in the bud.” 

Geto looked at him, and Si-woo returned the stare. 

“How do you… know what to do,” Geto finished lamely. 

“What do you mean?”

“You always have a plan,” Geto said, frustrated. “How.” 

“Experience,” Si-woo said. “I wasn’t this smart when I was seventeen.” 

“Oh, yeah?”

“I graduated high school and then hopped on a plane to Japan,” Si-woo said. 

“That takes planning.” 

Si-woo let out an exasperated sigh. “Alright, I knew there was a jujutsu society in Japan that I wanted to be a part of, I knew the language, and I had money. That was it. I knew no one here, knew nothing about the culture, knew very little about what jujutsu was. It was idiotic. You, at least, are familiar with some of this environment and you have people helping you now. So even if you don’t have a concrete plan, you do have advantages.” 

“Are you one of those people?”

Si-woo wanted to ask which, but he was pretty sure he already knew what Geto was asking. “Yes.” 

“I’ve been trying to make a plan,” Geto said, “but it’s not working out.” 

Si-woo heard the backdoor open, and the sounds of children approaching. He got up and Geto did not cling on. Progress, at least. 

“Well, we can go over it sometime, alright?” Si-woo asked. “Now, we’ve got to get you looking more like a human being.” 

“I look fine,” Geto said, with disheveled hair and red eyes. 

“Wash your face in the bathroom,” Si-woo said, and Geto went. As Si-woo was taking all the teacups from the ground, Mimiko and Nanako peeked their heads in. 

“Where’s Mr. Geto?” 

“In the bathroom,” Si-woo said. “Why?”

“We were wondering if we could have a sleepover,” Nanako said.  “Megumi wants one too.” 

“I’ll let Geto know when he comes out,” Si-woo said, and the girls ducked back out again. Si-woo had just put their cups in the dishwasher when Fushiguro came in. 

“So, how’d the talk go?”

“I have a seventeen-year-old son now,” Si-woo said. “Do you want joint custody?”

Fushiguro eyed him. “Are you being serious?”

“Well, Geto is technically a minor, and since I don’t think he’s emancipated, he needs a guardian,” Si-woo said. “Oh, did the kids tell you that they want a sleepover already?”

“Yeah, I was coming to talk to you about it,” Fushiguro said. “I have extra toothbrushes and I think I have some clothes from when Megumi stayed over. Before everything.” 

Si-woo nodded before pausing. “You have changes of clothes for Megumi?”

“Maybe? I said I think not I know for certain. Why?”

“In that case, I wouldn’t have had to buy him so much stuff,” Si-woo said. “Anyways, I think a sleepover would be fine. To be honest, I’m exhausted. But we’ll have to check with Geto, because if he doesn’t want to, I’ll probably have to drive him home.” 

Si-woo’s eyes widened slightly when he remembered that his car was back at the office. 

“In that case, Megumi could stay over then, and you could pick him up in the morning,” Fushiguro suggested. 

“Could do that,” Si-woo said, thinking about the logistics of finding a taxi or getting to the nearest train. 

“So which will it be?”

It would be too inconvenient, in Si-woo’s opinion. He could take Fushiguro’s car in the morning. 

“Alright, alright, there’ll be a sleepover,” Si-woo said and Fushiguro cracked a smile. 

Geto also agreed to a sleepover, and while the kids all shared Tsumiki’s room and Fushiguro got to keep her own, Si-woo was sleeping on the floor. Because there was one couch and since Geto was only seventeen years old, apparently that made him more qualified to take it. 

“Your back’s already gone,” Fushiguro said. 

“You’re older than me, so you should be sleeping on the floor then,” Si-woo said, but was still given a futon so he could sleep on the ground. 

Not to mention that he was still in his suit from work. And Geto was still in those robes. The kids at least got to change—Megumi into a pair that Fushiguro did have, and Mimiko and Nanako into some of Tsumiki’s clothes. 

“Hey,” Geto whispered and yeah, Si-woo used to be nostalgic for when he was kid and for the sleepovers and playdates he had, but this wasn’t how he expected to recreate it at all. Especially with a kid who just admitted that he saw Si-woo as a father figure. What the fuck. “Are you awake?”

“Yup,” Si-woo said, not bothering to whisper. Geto shushed him. 

“What’s your name?”

“... Kong Shiu,” Si-woo said. “You know this.” 

“I mean… you said that you’re Korean,” Geto said, “and you didn’t grow up here. So I was asking about a Korean name. If you have one.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Well, if it’s your real name, then I don’t want to call you by a fake one,” Geto said. “Unless only your family calls you that, and it’s personal like that. Then it’s fine.” 

No one called Si-woo by his name. Hadn’t really ever since he came to Japan. He never told anyone here for good reason, and there was only half-hearted contact from home in the beginning, before it petered out almost completely. 

Si-woo didn’t really have a problem with it. Kong Shiu was a persona he lived in and took off every night, even if no one else was around to witness. Some people overthought their identities. Si-woo never thought about it at all. His mother used to have a problem with that. She’d say stuff like being a man or a son or Korean was supposed to mean something, something that Si-woo always disregarded. 

He wasn’t entirely sure whether that had been a good thing or not.

“Don’t go around yelling it to the world,” Si-woo muttered. “It’s Gong Si-woo.” 

“Should I call you Si-woo?”

“Nope.”

“Gong, then?” 

“No,” Si-woo said. He could feel Geto frowning.

“Si-woo,” Geto said and Si-woo sighed.

“Only in private," Si-woo warned. "But yeah?”

“You can call me Suguru, if you want.” 

Si-woo closed his eyes. “Sure. Good night, Suguru.” 

Suguru did not make another sound after that. 

It was hectic, the next morning. All the adults had work, and considering the car situation, Fushiguro had to drive both Si-woo and Suguru. 

The kids, however, were loathe to leave one another. Nanako grabbed Tsumiki and Mimiko grabbed Megumi, and obviously, the twins could not be separated. 

“You won’t give us another playdate,” Megumi said calmly, from where he was being held in a death grip. “So now we’re making a hostage situation.” 

“Could we drop them off at a daycare?” Suguru asked. “Just as a bulk package.”

“I’m pretty sure they only take really small kids,” Fushiguro responded. 

“Nah,” Si-woo said. “There’s one that goes up to age twelve, though they separate based on age. But Megumi got banned from it.” 

Both Fushiguro and Suguru stared at him. 

“Anyways,” Si-woo continued, “this is very easily solved.” 

“How?” Suguru asked. 

“We give them more playdates,” Si-woo said. 

“And sleepovers,” Nanako added. Tsumiki nodded smartly. 

“... And sleepovers,” Si-woo conceded. 

“What changed?” Megumi asked, eyes narrowing. 

“We had a grown up talk,” Si-woo said. “Pinky promise that there will be more playdates and sleepovers, alright?”

The kids looked unconvinced, and Si-woo pointedly looked at Fushiguro and Suguru. They rushed to say that they promised as well. 

Reluctantly, the kids disengaged and they could all get to work. 

“Can I stay with Mimiko and Nanako?” Megumi asked when they, Suguru, and the twins were in the car. “I don’t want to be home alone.” 

“Please?” the twins chimed in. 

“They’re very responsible,” Suguru said. “They don’t get in trouble when I leave them alone and we have a neighbor that checks in on them periodically. Like, once an hour.” 

Was it irresponsible? Very much so. But Si-woo knew when battles were worth fighting and this was not one of them. 

In retribution, though, he drilled the kids—Suguru included because who trusted a neighbor when they were a fugitive, what the fuck—on saftey in different situations and possibly scarred them with what could theoretically happen if jujutsu society caught up to them. A good dose of fear was needed for growth, at any rate. 

“So don’t talk to strangers and play dumb,” Si-woo said as he and Suguru were going to leave the apartment. “Got it?”

The kids all nodded furiously. 

“And call if anything goes wrong.”

More nodding. 

“And stop nodding so much before your heads get dizzy and you vomit.”

Some nodding before abrupt stops. 

“Si-woo?” Suguru asked as they left the apartment. “Could all of that really happen?”

“Yeah,” Si-woo said. “But the worst stuff is the most implausible. Except for death. We all die. But that also likely won’t happen soon.” 

Suguru looked perturbed. 

Si-woo dropped Suguru off. 

“Make sure not to get so pissed this time,” he said, “and call me when you’re done. Or text me. I’ll come and pick you up.”

“Alright.”

“Make sure to actually eat lunch as well,” Si-woo added. “You look like you’ve been getting thinner, and since you have an actual paycheck now, that shouldn’t be the case.” 

“Right.” 

“Though get to an actual store. In-building food sucks and is expensive. And—”

“I know how to take care of myself,” Suguru interrupted testily. 

“Oh, really?” Si-woo said. “You’re just seventeen. That’s basically a baby. You sure you don’t want me to bring you over a bento?”

“This is insulting.” 

“Wow, that seems like deja vu,” Si-woo said flatly and saw recognition strike Suguru. He looked a bit embarrassed now. 

“Do call me, though,” Si-woo said as Suguru closed the car door. “I drove you today, so I might as well drive you back as well.” 

“Alright, Dad.” 

Si-woo was not amused. Suguru very much was. Kids. So disrespectful. He’d raise Megumi to be nicer. 

That night, it was just Megumi and Si-woo, something he was eternally grateful for. There had been too many kids, these past few days. But as they ate, something occurred to Si-woo. 

“Hey, Megumi,” Si-woo said over their takeout. Sure, it was unhealthy, but they deserved a treat, once in a while. “Why didn’t you tell me that you wanted a playdate so badly?”

It didn’t matter that Si-woo knew that Megumi had wanted one from the hints. Children should be able to ask for stuff directly and be annoying as fuck about it. 

“That was when people were looking for me,” Megumi said. “And when Mr. Geto was being upset.”

“... So?”

“You were keeping me safe,” Megumi said a bit sullenly, “and it’s safety over happiness.” 

Si-woo frowned. “Who told you that?”

“The old man.” Megumi stared at his noodles, and then said, haltingly, “He said it when I got upset at stuff. Like if we had to change too many places, he said safety over happiness and then left me in a room. If there was something I wanted that we couldn’t get, it was safety over happiness, because purchases can make paper trails and safety depends on spare money.”

Megumi looked up at Si-woo, eyes staring straight at him. 

“Safety is important, but so is happiness,” Si-woo said after a moment. “Even if you couldn’t go outside, we could play board games, or watch something together. There’s not one way to get happiness, so while it wouldn’t have been as great as playdates, it would have been something. You could have been a bit happy, which is better than not being happy at all.”

“So I can ask for stuff I want?”

Si-woo nodded. “Sometimes, I might not be able to get it, but you should still always tell me.” 

“I want to know about my cursed technique and jujutsu society,” Megumi said, and Si-woo felt like Megumi had been planning this. 

Well, Si-woo had promised, he was pretty sure, and so, he started an explanation. 

Si-woo felt like crying. He didn’t, because he reserved his tears for when the store ran out of his favorite foods, but it was a near thing. 

Because in his hands was his phone bill for the month. 

Si-woo was going to start charging higher rates.