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There were two different legends around soulmates that hailed from the era when the Inumaki clan was still at the peak of its glory. Neither of them was happy and when Toge first learned of them by piecing together the whispers of the servants around the estate, he wished for neither of them to be true. And if at all one of them had to be real, Toge hoped the one where the curse technique bearers were born without soulmates at all to be true. He was only ten years old and deeply unloved by everyone around him for being born with the technique that his clan had worked hard to eradicate. For the first decade of his life, Toge had coped because of the belief that his soulmate would love him no matter what. Of course, there were stories where one soulmate rejected the other for various reasons but these stories were so far and few in between that they were almost like legends that sprouted out of misunderstandings or forewarnings that weren’t actually true. So, Toge lived with the hope that one day he would meet his soulmate and it wouldn’t matter that nobody else loved him until he found out about the legends.
Because the other legend about the Inumaki clan’s history with soulmates went like this: the soulmates were killed as soon as they were found. At first, it was so the clan could continue its tradition of arranging marriages between members of the clan with the cursed technique and other powerful sorcerers to ensure the glory of the clan being passed down to future generations. Later, when the power became more trouble than respect, the killings still continued but this time it was to make sure the technique wasn’t passed down at all and that the curse technique users would remain under the control of the clan. The thought of being the cause of his soulmate being murdered in cold blood settled into being a deep fear in Toge even as young as he was. So from then, he tried to steel his heart against any desire for a soulmate and in the simple logical way that children think, he decided that if he could get attention from others, if he could be loved by anyone at all, he would eventually be completely okay with not having a soulmate. That’s when the pranks started. Sure, the attention he got was far from positive from his parents but it was still attention. Then, one day, Gojo Satoru, who had come to offer him at the jujutsu school laughed, full-bellied and delighted at something Toge didn’t even remember anymore, he took him up on the offer.
___
The soulmate words appeared around the age of 10 and definitely before 14. There was never a case of someone having their words appear after so when Toge’s skin remained blank on the day he turned 15, Toge let go of any residual hope he had harboured in his heart.
___
“Gojo-sensei said we’re gonna have a new student this week,” Maki said during one of their training sessions. The summer had been rough but the weather was starting to cool down which meant Toge couldn’t fake being too dizzy to continue Maki’s devil regimen of training anymore.
“Tuna mayo?” Toge grunted from his position on the ground where Maki was sitting on his back trying to make sure his torso stayed flat on the ground during his splits stretches. Maki’s training sessions was the first time Toge had found himself wishing he could get less attention so he didn’t have to end every day with sore muscles. He didn’t truly wish for it. It was the first time he had found himself a space where he felt accepted and loved for who he was, the two of them and Panda becoming fast friends and bonding over their shared difficult pasts. None of them had had friends before, not really so Toge wasn’t even sure of they were friends in the right way but it didn’t matter to him, not when he was this happy for the first time in his life. Maybe if there were people like Maki and Panda and all the other people in the school that had welcomed him without fear or disgust, Toge felt maybe he truly would be okay with having no soulmate. Besides, Panda didn’t have one either.
“Yeah, he’s joining so late cause he was apparently scouted from a non-sorcerer family.”
“Maybe he’ll be your soulmate, Maki,” Panda piped up from where he was doing the bare minimum of what could be counted as warm-up stretches. Toge wished Maki would go bother him about his technique instead.
“Shut your face,” Maki hurled the wooden practice staff she was holding at Panda’s head and Toge felt a strange sort of satisfaction when it connected with its target with a bonk. Serves him right for not rescuing Toge from Maki. “I’m already sick with the fact that I’ll have to share the bathroom with three nasty boys now, I don’t need the soulmate bullshit thrown in there. He’s supposed to be real gloomy too.
Maki’s words curled around her ankle said I’ll do it . Toge and Panda had come up with explanations, each more ridiculous than the previous one to what it was exactly that Maki’s soulmate would be agreeing to do. Maybe they’re agreeing to take on your clan with you, so romantic, Panda had texted into their group chat once and Toge, finding this prospect utterly boring had replied, No surely, they’re agreeing to suck her toes. Maki had yelled at them both, blocked their numbers and beat them up with such severity for the next few days, Toge almost regretted sending that text. But it had led to Gojo-sensei finding out what Panda and Toge were up to and started to add his own ridiculous scenarios so Toge figured it was worth it afterall.
__
The new student, Okkotsu Yuuta, joined them two days later and brought his curse along. Toge was instantly drawn to him. Yuuta was nervous, fidgety and deathly afraid of hurting people because of the curse he carried and Toge saw his past self in the boy. He was determined to make Yuuta comfortable and show him that this was a place where he could belong so he tried his best to befriend the boy. If his pretty face was a bonus during these interactions, that was just for Toge to know. Yuuta’s soulmate was probably out there and Toge wouldn’t come between them even if he stood a chance, to begin with.
___
“Do you think Yuuta’s soulmate is… you know?” Panda started thoughtfully. It had been about two weeks since Yuuta had joined and the three of them were hanging out near the vending machines waiting for their new classmate to join them after Gojo had asked him to stay back. Yuuta was still just as hesitant as he had been on the first day and Maki had started to find his habit of apologising for every little thing a bit annoying. Toge secretly thought it also had something to do with the fact that she could beat him up during training sessions too badly because of Rika.
“What? The floating Freddy Kruger lookalike?” Maki said bluntly, rolling her eyes when Panda gasped at her.
“Mentaiko,” Toge said. She’s not wrong. “Sujiko, salmon.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Maki nodded at him. “It would make sense with the whole curse situation. We could ask him.”
“No!” Panda crossed his arms aggressively in an ‘x’ so it would get his pointa cross better. “That’s definitely not a polite thing to be asking.”
Toge nodded along with Panda’s decision. Of course, he was deathly curious but it also meant he had to watch his step not to accidentally flirt with Yuuta and risk his maybe-soulmate-but-definitely-possesive-and-monstrous-lover ripping him in half. Although he wondered, if Yuuta’s soulmate was dead and he someday managed to be free of the curse, did it mean he had a chance? Toge shook his heard trying to rid himself of the thought. That was a mean thing to think of and definitely inappropriate right now. Besides, he didn’t like Yuuta that way anyway, he just thought the boy was cute but he still just wanted to be friends.
Panda was hastily changing the subject as Yuuta approached them and Toge was grateful. Maki had proved herself strangely capable of reading his thoughts even when he said nothing and he didn’t need her to know he had a crush thought Yuuta was cute. He would never hear the end of it and it would definitely end with Rika eating him for breakfast.
___
It took a month for the combined efforts of Maki and Toge to get Yuuta to tag along to their weekly trip into the city. They were grabbing crepes during the break from Toge and Maki dragging Yuuta all over the shops when it finally dawned on Toge that Yuuta had bought nothing all day and even now, he was being stingy with the toppings for his crepe while Toge and Maki were having an undeclared competition as to who could create the biggest monstrosity. Of course, he hadn’t expected Yuuta to buy anything from the shops Maki took them to, all of them various degree of weird or practical but what about all the clothes shop Toge had dragged them too so far? Sure, Yuuta’s fashion sense was what Toge would describe as drab but the boy didn’t even seem to have that many clothes to begin with.
“Okkotsu, do you not like crepes?” Maki asked as they went up to the cash register. “Should we have gone somewhere else?”
“Ah n-no, no, not at all!” Yuuta said anxiously. “This is just fancier than the places I’ve been to, s-so-”
“Oh,” Maki said awkwardly as the pieces clicked together for Toge. He whipped out his card and paid for all their crepes as well as the takeaway they had gotten for Panda before he even knew what he was doing.
“Oh, Inumaki-kun, you shouldn’t have,” Yuuta fretted but Toge was already moving out of the way, looking for a free table, completely ignoring Maki who had narrowed her eyes at him in a strange look. “I’ll pay you back, I-”
“Okaka,” Toge shook his head. “Ikura, sujiko”
“He says it’s his treat,” Maki relayed still looking at Toge like she was trying to figure something out. “And don’t worry about it, friends pay for each other all the time.”
“Friends?” Yuuta looked at them half-shocked and half in awe. Maki melted around the edges. They all knew what that felt like, being shunned and friendless but it made Toge happy to hear Maki say it out loud.
“Salmon, salmon,” Toge patted Yuuta on the arm.
It was in their next shop that Maki pulled him aside after Toge had forced Yuuta into the changing room with a bunch of outfits for him to try on.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she hissed at him.
“Konbu?”
“You’re acting like a rich brat, stop throwing your money around or you’re gonna start making him uncomfortable,” Maki slapped him upside the head to drill in her point.
Toge glared at her. He only wanted to buy some outfits for Yuuta because he looked like he needed some fashion advice and they were friends now. He definitely had no ulterior motive no matter how Maki was looking at him like she knew something.
“You always try and trick me to pay for you too, so what exactly is going on here?”
“Okaka,” Toge said vehemently.
“Nothing, my ass, Toge, I swear-”
“Inumaki-kun?” Yuuta was peeking out from behind the changing room door hesitantly. “Um, do you want to see what they look like on me?”
“Salmon!” Toge hurried away from Maki, only glancing back to give her the stink eye which she returned with the ‘I’m watching you sign’.
In the end, Toge gave in to Maki glaring at him from behind Yuuta and let him buy himself a sweater without offering to pay for it. It didn’t stop him from promising Yuuta a whole outfit for his next birthday and Toge consoled himself that seeing Yuuta blush and stutter about it was good enough for now.
---
Toge was pretending to sleep on the grass next to Maki and Panda hoping that Maki would feel pity on him and think he was too tired to train today. It was getting colder and Toge wished he hadn’t forgotten his coat that morning but he couldn’t go and get it now without Maki dragging him off to run laps cause, “That will help you warm up too, Toge.” Toge would rather die.
“I saw Megumi’s words,” Maki said. “The poor boy.”
“Yeah?” Panda replied lazily. “What were they?”
“‘I’m in mourning right now’, good lord.”
“A funeral meet-cute?” Panda wondered and Toge had to bite the inside of his cheek to not laugh and give away the ruse.
“A lot of chances to meet then, in our line of work,” Maki mused just as Toge heard familiar footsteps join them.
“What are you guys talking about?” Toge felt his heart flutter at Yuuta’s voice. Yuuta had become slightly more comfortable around them ever since their outing and Toge was smug about it.
“Megumi’s soulmate words,” Panda offered without thinking. They all froze as soon as the words sunk in. They had decided not to talk about soulmates around Yuuta in case it brought up sad memories or made him gloomier than he usually was but Toge almost jumped in surprise when Yuuta chuckled. Toge fought himself against opening his eyes to catch Yuuta’s laughing face. Think about the training, Toge, he told himself.
“I almost saw it in the showers the other day, but he tried to hide and slipped on the soap bar and fell instead,” Yuuta said, making Maki and Panda laugh along in surprise. “I wonder if Inumaki-kun’s soulmate’s words are a riceball ingredient. That would be so confusing for the person.”
Toge felt himself stiffen as an awkward silence met Yuuta’s words. Of course, he wouldn’t know, it’s not like he came from a sorcerer family where it was common knowledge. Toge could feel them staring at him and he prayed that they would think he was really asleep.
“Uh, I’m really sorry if I said anything wrong-”
“No, don’t worry about it. It’s just a sore subject,” Maki said quietly. “The Inumaki clan’s legends say that the curse technique bearers are either born without a soulmate or if they have one, the soulmate is killed for political reasons, so don’t talk about Toge’s soulmate if you can help it.”
Yuuta made a choked sound and Toge wished he could tell him that it was fine but it would just make it more awkward if he broke his act now. He hoped Panda’s reassurances were enough when Yuuta started to trip over his words trying to apologise.
“Did anyone see Gojo-sensei try to weasel out a father’s day gift from Megumi?” Panda finally asked, steering away the conversation but Toge still found it hard to relax until Maki had decided she had had enough and kicked him in order to “wake” him up.
___
“Inumaki-kun,” Yuuta started nervously. They were waiting for Maki and Panda to join them for movie night. “Why don’t you learn JSL?”
“Okaka,” Toge replied, holding up a hand as he brought out his phone to type in his notes. I can’t expect other people to learn so selfishly.
“I would learn with you,” Yuuta said so earnestly that Toge felt himself blush. He was suddenly so thankful that his hoodie hid half his face and even more so when Maki and Panda chose to walk in at the right moment so Toge didn’t have to reply.
___
It was in the middle of the battle during their first mission that Yuuta gasped and froze, staring at Toge like a deer caught in headlights.
“Yuuta, run away,” Toge forced his curse energy towards the boy so he would snap out of whatever trance it was that he had found himself in and thankfully, Yuuta managed to flip away and throw the cough syrup bottle at him too.
Toge held up his hand for a high five when they were finally done but Yuuta left his arm hanging to reach for his face instead. Toge raised his eyebrows as Yuuta rubbed at the marks on his cheek, his usual nervousness forgotten in the fascination.
“Inumaki-kun,” Yuuta whispered reverently like he was seeing a miracle. “I- I think your my soulmate.”
Toge stared back dumfounded. What was Yuuta talking about three months into knowing each other and even after having heard of the whole fiasco of Inumaki clan and soulmates?
“I-I mean,” Yuuta pulled back suddenly like he had remembered himself, completely flustered, his face flushed red. “Look!”
He started to unbutton his uniform and Toge’s eyebrows rose higher. What in the hell was happening? Toge was almost worried that Yuuta might have had hit his head hard in the middle of the battle leading to whatever nonsense this was (not that the rapid beating of his heart was listening to anything his brain put forwards) but there it was. Right above Yuuta’s heart, the snake and fang marks that Toge had on his face.
“Takana??” Toge yelled in disbelief, his hand reaching out on it’s own to press against the marks on Yuuta’s chest (his skin was so hot, Toge’s heart started beating faster like it was even possible). He pulled out his phone, typing fast.
I don’t have words on my body!!!
“Ah I don’t either, not really,” Yuuta confessed. “I thought this was just a- a really weird birthmark but you- you-”
For the first time ever, Toge realised that Yuuta had never really seen his entire face somehow in the past three months. A small part of him suddenly blushed with the thought of what Yuuta would think about his face. Did he think he was cute?
“Inumaki-kun-”
Toge grabbed his hand, pulling him along to the car before he could finish his sentence. The car ride back was silent and awkward, with Yuuta answering Ichiji’s questions about the mission while Toge resolutely looked out of the window, thoughts swirling a mile a minute in his head. He was freaking out like never before.
When they reached the school, Toge was out the door before the car was fully parked, running in speeds that would have delighted Maki if he had done it in an actual training session, with Yuuta chasing after him. Gojo was in the kitchen where Toge had hoped he would be when he burst through the door.
“Toge-kun! Everything all right?” Gojo asked looking up from where he was digging into an ice cream tub that was clearly labelled ‘Fushiguro’.
“Okaka! Mentaiko!” Toge replied, frazzled just as Yuuta ran in, panting.
“Oh, Gojo-sensei,” Yuuta gasped, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. “I think what Inumaki-kun is trying to say is this.” He straightened up to pull down his uniform jacket and point at the mark.
“Oh?” Gojo said calmly. “Looks like you guys finally figured it out! Let’s celebrate it tonight! Shall we get dinner from Toge-kun’s favourite onigiri shop?” He clapped his hands in delight.
Toge was too busy gaping at Gojo in disbelief to notice his expression mirrored on Yuuta.
“Oh, did I never tell you all the legends were actually just lies, Toge-kun?” Gojo said with fake surprise like he hadn’t done it purposefully. “I swear I must have! Well, I guess, they’re not entirely a lie because there were a couple of cases where soulmates were killed so the political marriages could go ahead and I guess it’s technically not a lie but it's more that cursed speech users are not born with words, instead of without a soulmate. Hmm.”
Yuuta was the first to recover. “So you knew about my mark too?”
“Oh yeah!” Gojo said enthusiastically. “That’s how soulmates of curse-speech users are marked. But I wanted you to figure it out yourselves you know! It isn’t good to interfere in young love and all that!” he added as if he hadn’t done it for the pure entertainment value.
“Inumaki-kun,” Yuuta finally said, reaching for Toge’s hand and like any normal person would react, Toge slapped it away in pure panic and even kicked Yuuta out of way for good measure before running away at top speed, Gojo’s maniacal laugh following him.
___
It was hours later that Toge heard knocking on is dorm room where he was hiding under his blankets in complete mortification and confusion.
“Inumaki-kun?” Yuuta’s voice called out softly and he sounded so anxious, Toge dragged himself out of his bed along with his blankets to open the door just a crack. “I’m sorry about earlier, can I come in?”
“Okaka,” Toge muttered, pulling the door open wider and making room for Yuuta to walk in. “Mentaiko.”
“No, Inumaki-kun, you don’t have to apologise at all!” Yuuta scratched at the back of his neck nervously.
“Yuuta,” Toge said suddenly, pulling out his phone from his pocket to type again. What about Rika?
“What about Rika?” Yuuta asked confused. “She was my best friend. She won’t hurt you, you’re my soulmate. ” He blushed bright red suddenly when his words caught up to him.
Oh. So they had all come to the wrong conclusion, then, Toge thought as something warm and glowly bloomed in his chest. Suddenly he wanted to hide again but this time for completely different reasons.
“Inumaki-kun,” Yuuta said seriously. “I really like you. Even- even before finding out about the mark and everything today. It- it’s okay if you don’t feel the same-”
“Salmon,” Toge interrupted him, wrapping the blanket tighter around himself, hoping Yuuta wouldn’t see how shy he was feeling but the older boy’s face had morphed into the biggest smile Toge had ever seen.
“Really?” he said excited, looking like it was taking every ounce of his strength to hold back. “Of course, we’ll do whatever you want and I’m really sorry about earlier, I- Can I- Maybe-” Yuuta stopped his ramble to take a deep breath.
“Can I hug you?”
Toge nodded and then, Yuuta’s arms were around him over his blankets pulling them flush against each other and Toge tucked his face into Yuuta’s neck, a small part of him praying Rika wouldn’t appear to shred him to pieces. But mostly, he felt like for the first time in his life, he was home. As Yuuta’s scent flooded his nose and his warm arms held him firmly but carefully, Toge felt whole. And for that moment, everything he had been through didn’t matter at all.