Chapter Text
The dark haired girl's boots made a tapping noise as she walked on the stone floor. Her uniform just as dark as her ebony hair was pressed smoothly to her body, the complimentary skirt with a slit on her right leg matched. Her back was straight chin held high, but not with any hint of cockiness.
The light breeze brushed against smooth pale skin, moving her bangs slightly. The rest of her hair didn't move with wind for it was braided into a crown around her head, a style quite unconventional for someone of conservative Japanese tradition. But the dark haired girl found the western hairstyle to be useful.
The girl stopped her trek to the gates of the school she would be attending. She had never stepped foot through these gates, not even getting a tour of it. Yet here she was.
Her walk to the school, albeit a long one, she found it quite refreshing. The style was of Japanese traditional architecture, something she was already accustomed to. That wasn't what the girl found so appealing of this place.
For a school in Tokyo, the area was relatively rustic, not really urban at all. She had passed by statues of monks and buddhas with red sashes. But perhaps the most beautiful thing she found at this place was the unjudging eyes on her. There was practically no one, seemingly desolate.
As she walked through the gates, she stopped. Her family had dumped her with almost zero instructions. Well actually they did give her some instructions, more so how to act and bring herself about than how to get around the place. Not even a map.
The girl scanned the massive courtyard for any signs of life before stepping towards the shadows of the trees. She crouched down on one knee and whispered a simple incantation.
"Cursed Shadow Art: Surveyor."
Instantly the girl's surroundings vanished into blacks and whites. Previous buildings disappeared, only its shadow outlines remained. Her dark eyes darted around trying to find anything that could lead her to the principal's office.
"Yo."
The girl jumped up in surprise. She immediately turned around coming face to face with the embodiment of snow. It was a boy with snow white hair, a pair of dark sunglasses adorned his nose defying gravity as he was hanging upside down on the tree. "What were you doing? You were staring at that building for a while with your hand on the ground. I doubt our soil is that interesting."
The mysterious boy leapt from the tree, now standing upright facing the girl. He wore the same color uniform as she, though it was more sloopy, having unbuttoned the front to show their white dress shirts. His fists were placed in each pocket, his shoulders slouching, his face wearing a carefree smile.
The girl looked at the boy tiredly. The use of that technique allowed for her to survey the land using shadows yes, but it did impair her other senses, especially hearing. If she was looking for a certain person, they'd show up too, but she wasn't expecting another student.
"I'm new here. I was looking for the principal's office or a..." The girl paused trying to remember the name her parents had skimmed through when briefing her. "Masamichi-sensei?"
"Are you a first year?" The boy's smile got wider much to the girl's dismay. She only nodded, hesitantly.
"Oi Getou! Come over here, we have a new classmate," The white haired boy hollered turning his head to the left. Another boy, his hair darker and longer than the white haired one was walking to catch up with his friend the entire time.
"You shouldn't scare new students," his friend rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't scaring her!" The white haired boy scoffed in mock offense.
"It's fine. He didn't do anything to me. Since you're both first years I'm guessing you can help me?" the dark haired girl stood her hands fidgeting with the other as she took in the two new people in her life.
"Now that's not how you introduce yourself to the people you'll be studying with for next few years! And do you really wanna see that geezer first?" the white haired boy laughed as he placed an arm around his friend's shoulder.
"Getou Suguru. Nice to meet you," As he peeled his friend off his shoulders he gave her a short bow in some semblance of respect.
"Gojo Satoru at your service," he gave his own sloppy bow, his crystal blue eyes never leaving hers.
"Zenin Kumori." She bowed respectfully. "Please take care of me."
***Short Break***
When Gojo called their sensei a geezer, she was expecting an old man instead she stepped foot into a dim lighted room with a middle aged man who was making dolls.
"Zenin Kumori. I was told to come to–"
"Why did you come here?"
She didn't answer him right away. Kumori stood up from her bow and looked at her teacher, her head slightly tilted, trying to gauge if he was being serious or not.
"To study jujutsu."
The middle aged man appeared to have rolled his eyes, though it was hard to tell with his glasses on. "And? You're a Zenin, correct? That means you have reaches to Kyoto, why not go there?"
"Because I have faith in the Tokyo Prefectural High School," Her dark eyes were steely, tiredly looking at the man. She was tired and wished to go lie down. His questions seemed pointless.
"Do you have faith in our school? Or did your parents choose this school for you?" The man asked this time, still poking the needle into the colorful doll. It was almost funny.
Kumori paused. She knew her family was large and quite a big deal in the jujutsu universe but he couldn't have known how strict they were. Large big deal families tended to keep a lot of secrets.
"I don't see how it's your business." Kumori could almost hear her mother scolding her at this point. She heard a scuffle from behind her, a snort and a slap to the back. She guessed her classmates were getting a kick out of this.
"It is my business if the reason why you get killed while on a mission is because of something as insignificant as a parent's wish, Zenin or not," Masamichi said. He placed the doll down and stood up. "It'll also determine if I'll kick you out here and now or let you stay."
This made Kumori hold her tongue for a second. She didn't think her elders would be all that happy to hear that she got kicked out of one of only two schools that would teach her jujutsu on the first day.
Masamichi raised his hand and one of the dolls came to life.
"Cursed Corpse," Kumori whispered
She thought the glasses of her sensei glinted slightly. "Good. So you're a reader. Then I suppose I won't have to explain."
Immediately Kumori dropped her bag. Before the bag even had a chance to make a thud on the ground, she was flung into one of the pillars.
"Tch." The impact could've knocked her out if she hadn't placed her shield in front of her. The doll leapt off her and started doing odd poses.
"She's not knocked out yet? Then I'll just keep hitting you until you answer something acceptable." Kumori could only glare as another doll launched themself at her.
How pathetic. Are you really gonna disgrace your family like this?
Kumori didn't have that choice. She sucked in a deep breath and calm her nerves, just like how she was taught.
She sensed the doll would launch itself from behind her and flipped just in time for it to shoot past her and her teacher to the wall behind him.
But it only ricocheted itself and started bouncing itself off the pillars in super speed. It was going so fast she almost couldn't track it's shadow. Almost. Instead of launching her own offense she just waited. With the pattern it was going at it would probably do something she wanted it to do.
And when it was pitch dark that's when she knew. She almost smiled since the scenery was in her favor. She didn't have to exhaust half of her strength.
But that could only go for so long. Had it been 10 minutes passed? Or was 15? She forgot the amount of dolls she had completely shredded at this point. But she was able to feel the bead of sweat rolling itself down her face.
"A jujutsu warrior always dies alone and with regret. Are you willing to live a life like that?"
It must have been 30 minutes when Kumori couldn't take it anymore. "By the gods...ENOUGH!" Kumori yelled, exasperated.
She raised both arms up and whispered an incantation. "Cursed Shadow Art: Condense". The room started to shrink away from the darkness so that she could look her teacher in the eye. She didn't really create in the room persey. It looked like she was sucking in all the darkness in the room. In reality she was just stripping the shadows, and let's just say there was a lot.
The scene was almost a comical one. The air was with white stuffing and colorful eyes and fur. Her teacher stood in the same spot, almost bored as she stood heaving trying to catch her breath.
"Hah..hah... you want answers? Fine." Her knees buckled with the intense use of cursed energy. She was kneeling as if she was drinking a cup of tea. "My family wished for me to go to Kyoto. I chose to go to Tokyo, though I only chose the option they didn't agree with."
"I was born a woman in a sexist clan who pride themself on special cursed techniques. To them I'm merely a prized possession, a puppet for their use, a doll to dress and play with as they please. To die by myself on my own terms will be an honor. And I refuse to let it be with regret," Kumori seethed. "Besides, sensei, I doubt your power to expel a student is limited. I'll just wait until you make director to consider being scared of getting kicked out.
"The disrespect this generation poses I swear...I don't get paid enough for this," Masamichi sighed. "Congratulations. Welcome to Jujutsu Tech. You two show her to our dorms."
"Ahaha yes she passed!" Gojo laughed. "You have no idea how many times students have turned away from Jujutsu because of sensei scaring them. We were even contemplating showing you to him or the principle first."
"Nice figuring out the expulsion trick. Most students believe him right off the bat," Getou complimented.
"I kinda feel bad for being so rude. I swear I'm normally not, but the way one acts is based on surroundings," Kumori sighed, taking a gulp from her water. Her uniform was in tatters, her skin littered with little shallow cuts, her hand reaching up to wipe the dribble of blood from the corner of her mouth.
As the three walked to the dorms she watched the two friends interact. Well, it was mostly her and Getou walking side by side as Gojo stirred up some trouble for the groundskeepers.
Getou must have seen her annoyed expression because he had to stifle a snort. "So what do you think of our Grade 1 sorcerer? He is the pride but not the honor of Jujutsu Tech."
"You don't need to sound like you're advertising for your friend," Kumori scoffed. "From the looks of it, he could pull almost any girl he wanted."
"So I take it you're interested?" Kumori could tell that Getou's level of immaturity wasn't exactly on par with Gojo's, but it wasn't far off either.
"You didn't let me finish. As to what I think about him... I hardly doubt childish simpleton will suffice," Kumori shuddered.
For the first time Getou actually genuinely laughed. "Actually, that just about explains Gojo. You remind me of someone. Our dear Shoko who you'll meet in just a minute."
"What are you two giggling about?" A familiar voice asked. Just a second ago he was in front of them, now he was standing just behind them.
Kumori's blood froze, though looking at her expression you wouldn't have known. Of course she was briefed of the immense power of the Gojo clan, Limitless and Six eyes being both hereditary gifts in the clan. But to be standing before the person who possessed both.
As Getou laughed and playfully shoved his friend, Kumori only watched the two fool around. She knew well of Gojo Satoru. She just didn't expect him to be studying here. A great surprise from mother.
"Say Zenin-san. What grade are you? Since we'll be teammates of course," Gojo turned his attention to her.
Kumori hesitated to respond. The clans weren't exactly enemies, but they were wary of each other, Kumori herself being taught to not mingle too closely to them unless instructed to. But they were teammates. "Semi grade 1. I just need to go on a mission by myself to finalize everything," she responded.
"Hah! Look at that Getou the newbie is already beating you and she didn't even do anything!" Gojo laughed slapping his friend's back.
"You and I both know that I'm close to making semi grade 1 as well," Getou grumbled.
"Yeah yeah I know," Gojo said. "Grade 1. Hurry and catch up would ya?"
Kumori felt an irk mark form on her head. This little–
"Will you idiots shut up," a new voice echoed. It was a girl with short brown and a uniform matching theirs stood, her hands on the japanese bamboo door. "Oh? We have a newbie?"
"Zenin Kumori," She nodded her head.
"A Zenin, too? This'll be exciting," The girl remarked, but based on her facial expression she didn't look like she was actually interested. "You're looking for a dorm right? The one left for first years is right–"
"In front of mine!" Gojo bounded over to her with that idiotic grin.
Great. I have to wake up to his stupid face every morning.
"You get to wake up to my lovely face every morning!"
"Alright let the girl settle herself in before she loses more brain cells because of your stupidity," Getou got a shove in from their previous bantering. "She looks like she's about to drop."
Kumori smiled thankfully at Getou. She was indeed tired and wished for a shower and to let her hair down.
As she closed the door and let her bag down she surveyed her surroundings. The room was comfortably large, enough to put some more furniture should she choose, but not too big for it to feel lonely. It wasn't as big as her room at her home either, but she preferred it this way.
As she peeled the bloody tatters of what was her uniform and settled herself in the hot water she let out a soothing sigh. The grounds were old so she didn't expect for the plumbing to be any satisfactory, but the water was actually as hot as she liked. So much so, she kinda regretted not taking a bath instead of a shower.
Kumori shrugged on a robe as she stepped out. There was a lot of steam fogging most of the mirror. That was fine, she didn't want to see her scars anyways.
She stepped into her room opening boxes to her uniform and her bag from home. She was untying the sash to her robe when the door bursted open.
"Time for dinner!" Gojo's god awful voice called out.
In surprise Kumori immediately scampered to cover herself, in doing so blacked out the entire room, no light in sight. Which wasn't a problem for her, she could see in the dark.
"What the actual fuck!" Kumori cursed. With the sash secured around her waist, she crossed her arms trying salvage some of her dignity. Though without any light in the room, it would be like she wasn't there.
"Woahhh so this is your ability. And your eyes flashed red again like it did in Masamichi's room, " Gojo remarked. "But this isn't a domain, is it?"
Kumori raised her eye brows in surprise. He figured that out quite quickly. "Yeah. You're right. Most people mistaken it."
"Makes sense. Or else it would guarantee I wouldn't be able to see you. But you know, six eyes and all," he said pointing a finger to his eyes. His crystal eyes scanned the room as he walked around, seeing how far she got into unpacking.
Kumori almost smacked herself. How could she had forgotten about them? "But you can't see completely clearly either, right? This still is a jujutsu."
"Bingo. Everything is pretty blurry, but you're not entirely gone either." He was standing right in front of her now. Her clad in only a satin robe, him in full uniform attire. This hardly seems fair.
"Since you can see so well I'll have to ask you to leave, Gojo-san," Kumori gritted out of her teeth, though with a faux delightful voice.
"Why should I? When I've got a great view here?"
"Hn." A flirt huh? Kumori rolled her eyes as she raised her hand and did a waving motion, flinging the taller boy out of her room. Domain or not, it was still a shadow which she had complete control over. "Do something like that again and I'll send you to Sendai. Got it?" She didn't wait for a response as she closed the door and let the shadow go.
Getou whistled as he saw his friend dust himself off from being flung several feet. "So how'd it go?"
"Heh," Gojo grinned. "Her hair's longer than I thought."
Getou chuckled. "That's it?" As he swatted his friend's pale hair.
"That. And she is one powerful sorceress," Gojo remarked. He had known of her existence beforehand. And he was glad to not be disappointed.
***In Kumori's room***
She buckled the last of her boot buckles and placed her hair up with a single pin. Before stepping out of the room she stared at the spot Gojo had stood just before. The glasses he wore would make anyone else seem blind. But she knew better.
A handicap sure, but he probably saw more than he should on a daily and that would be annoying. But the immense power that boy held was nothing to scoff at.
"Mother would want me to befriend him for information. Father would want me to kill him," Kumori's face rested in her left palm as her right hand twirled her ring, her expression bored. "If our information is correct, then he's untouchable."
"No matter. It's only my first day. I'll think about it later," she said as she walked to her door. She opened to find three people standing just outside her door.
"You take a long time Zenin-chan," Gojo was the first to speak. He looked unscathed.
"Chan? Aren't we the same age?" Kumori asked confused.
"Spring baby aren't you? Or at least that's what my mother said," He had a hand on his chin contemplating something she had never told him.
"Um... yes actually," she hadn't expected him to be so blunt about researching her own clan. Her birthday was only a month ago, before the school year. "You're only older by a few, winter baby."
"I told you she did research on my magnificent self," Gojo dramatically gloated. Kumori knew better though.
"If you aren't gonna head down for food, I'm just gonna leave you," Shoko said as she turned around to head for dinner.
"Not before me," and Gojo zipped out of there, Getou following after screaming about how he'd better not eat everything.
Shoko sighed exasperated. "It's only the new year and we've got to deal with this."
Kumori chuckled. "I trust it'll be an exciting three then."
Word Count: 3329