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The day you learn that you're meant to be married off is the day all hell breaks loose.
Your clan elders wince as you stomp around their meeting room, throwing chairs out of your way as you spew curses and insults at them. They watch silently before bowing their heads, avoiding their gaze as you release all your pent up anger, frustration, and sadness that only comes to a stop when a sob breaks free from your mouth.
"Why?" you ask, your voice choked as you sink to your knees in front of your grandmother.
"The clan is at risk of being dissolved," she explains patiently, and it almost feels as though you're five years old again, crying on the ground as she explains why running down the halls is unacceptable. "This marriage will lead to a merging of our clans, which would ensure our survival. This is your duty, you know this."
"Who are they?" you ask, trying to control your heavy breaths as she observes you. She reaches out to stroke your hair, causing you to flinch as another sob breaks free. "Don't touch me. Please."
There's a brief moment of silence as your grandmother's face falls, and she simply nods before lacing her hands together and placing them in her lap.
"There are two suitors who asked for your hand," your grandmother says, her face now void of emotion as she looks down at you. "The first is from the Zen'in clan. He's very accomplished, considered to be a genius in his clan, and he's ranked as a special grade 1 sorcerer. His name is Zen'in Naoya, and he's your age."
The name rings a faint bell in your mind, and although you can't remember much about the man in question, you can't help but feel a sense of dread creep up your spine. You keep your head down, trying to keep your voice form cracking as you speak once more.
"And the other?"
"Gojo Satoru," your grandmother states. "From the Gojo clan, of course. Special grade sorcerer, a year older than you if I'm not mistaken, and also considered to be quite strong."
You scoff at her words, earning a sharp look from some of the other elders. "Quite strong? He's labeled special grade for a reason."
"Those are your two suitors," your grandmother continues, ignoring your outburst. "You have the freedom to choose who you'd like to marry."
"Freedom to choose?" you sneer, finally looking up. Some of the elders exchange glances as your hands begin to shake, and they all turn away when you finally stand up. "What kind of bullshit is that?" You're selling me off and you still have the audacity to tell me I have the freedom to choose who I want to spend the rest of my life with? I don't know either of them!"
"You will go through with this."
Your grandmother's words are soft yet firm, void of all kindness that they had previously held. She looks almost tired as you send her a bitter smile, and she simply waves her hand in an attempt to get you to sit back down. You remain standing.
"The jujutsu world is not a kind one," she says, her voice light and airy as though telling you a secret. "The sooner you realize that, the sooner you can start trying to find some semblance of happiness in your life. You have a week to make your decision."
The clench of your jaw lets everyone know just how angry you are, yet relieved sighs are heard when you begrudgingly nod your head.
"Fine," you finally spit out, hands still clenched as you turn around and start heading towards the door. "But I want to meet with them before I choose. Make it happen."
"Ungrateful brat," you hear an elder mutter; a distant aunt of some kind if you remember correctly. "Having a choice is not an option everyone gets and you should be well aware of that."
Her words make you pause by the doorway, and you faintly hear your grandmother shushing her before telling her that her thoughts are best kept to herself. You don't give any of the elders the satisfaction of seeing your face, instead choosing to storm out of the meeting room and down the hall.
A slam of a door is all that's heard after your departure.
The truth is that you have no one to blame but yourself for the situation you currently find yourself in.
You sit comfortably on a large, plush couch, nervously waiting for Gojo Satoru to walk in. Your stomach twists as you wait for him to appear, smoothing down your clothes in an attempt to ward off your nerves as you look around the room. The Gojo estate is huge, and you find your eyes widening in awe as you take note of all the historic relics that they have in the home.
Another truth is that you lied to your own grandmother when you said you didn't know either of your suitors.
Gojo Satoru is someone you're familiar with, albeit not closely. He had been a second year when you entered Tokyo Jujutsu High, and you had been introduced to him in passing when he had just arrived from a mission while you set out on one with Nanami and Haibara.
You remember catching a glimpse of blue eyes and a cocky grin on his handsome face as he greeted his underclassmen, talking about the cursed spirit he had just gotten rid of before his gaze slid over to you and curiosity took over.
He had introduced himself to you, faintly recognizing your last name when you said it and asking about your clan and cursed technique. The interaction had left you flustered and Nanami had cut in to sent him off, telling him that having him around would only make your day worse. He had then proceeded to give you a judgmental look, disappointed that you had let yourself be affected by Gojo's good looks.
Your small crush was fleeting considering you didn't see much of Gojo after that, especially not after what had happened with Amanai Riko and Geto Suguru. You also didn't socialize much after Haibara's death, instead dedicating yourself to your studies and trying to get promoted to a grade 1 sorcerer before you even entered your third year.
Any and all exchanges between you and Gojo were brief, with the rare exception of being assigned to go on a mission together. A conversation about your performance at the exchange event here, casual banter there, that was all there ever was between you and Gojo. Nothing but superficial interactions.
If you're being completely honest, you wonder if Gojo even remembers who you are.
The bouncing in your leg is impossible to stop, and you find that your nerves only grow with every passing minute that you sit alone. You stand up abruptly, deciding to walk around to clear your head from all the negative thoughts that were swirling around. You think back to your meeting with Zen'in Naoya, cringing when you remembered just how badly it had gone. You find yourself absentmindedly wondering if your conversation with Gojo would be any better.
A small sculpture draws your attention, and you lean down to get a better look at it when you realize it belongs to the Heian Period. You reach out to touch it, fingers barely skimming the relic when you hear a voice.
"You break it, you buy it."
A yelp leaves your lips as you jump away, your back colliding with someone as large hands gently grab your waist to steady you. There's a panicked pattering as you spin around quickly, your shoes tapping softly against the wooden floor and your hands landing on a firm chest as you come face to face with Gojo Satoru himself. Stuttered apologies leave your lips as you back away, giving him a deep bow and keeping your head down even after you straighten up.
There's an amused look on Gojo's face as he reaches out to tilt your head up, letting his hand fall back down to his side when you finally meet his gaze.
"There's no need to be so formal, is there? After all, we arranged this meeting as equals."
The hesitance is clear on your face as you nod your head softly, and you simply watch as he wanders over to the couch and lets himself fall onto the cushions.
"Take a seat," he says, patting the empty space beside him. "I don't bite... most of the time."
He throws his head back and cackles at his own joke, and you find yourself holding back your own giggle at the obnoxious sound.
"Ah, that one never gets old," Gojo comments, wiping away a tear from under his eye. He sobers up somewhat when he sees you still standing, and he motions to couch once more in an attempt to get you to sit down. "No, seriously, come join me."
He watches you from behind his sunglasses, eyes hidden as you move across the room. There's a ghost of a smile on his face as he watches you perch yourself on the very edge of the sofa, back ramrod straight and hands folded in your lap as you purse your lips. A call of your name has you turning to face Gojo, and you find yourself speaking before you can stop yourself.
"You know my name?"
"Of course," Gojo scoffs. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Elders usually take care of arranged marriages in my clan so you don't even know who you're engaged to until it's almost time to wed," you murmur. "I didn't even know who my suitors were until they decided to tell me. And it's not like we spent that much time together at school."
"Someone like you isn't easy to forget. Besides, I personally asked for your hand in marriage," Gojo admits, and it takes everything in him to keep his smile at bay when you give him a shocked look. "I heard that Zen'in Naoya had also proposed and I intervened. I don't like him much, you see, and I don't think you'd like him either. And besides, we went to school together. I'm sure you'd rather accept a proposal from someone you already know, right?"
You give him a stiff nod as you school your features back into a neutral expression, causing him to sigh loudly and toss his head back once more as he sinks into his seat.
"Why are you so stiff?" he complains, turning his head towards you. "You weren't like this back in high school."
"You don't know anything about what I was like in high school," you quip, earning a smug smirk from him.
"I know that you were intelligent and hard-working. You were able to make grade 1 by the beginning of your third year and even managed to take on a special grade curse once," Gojo rattles off, earning a scoff from you.
"Everyone knows that," you counter, crossing your arms as you sent a half-hearted glare at him. "And you were on that mission with me! You helped!"
"I also know that you liked those dark chocolate croissants from the bakery downtown," Gojo continues. "You always went there with Nanami and he'd never tell me when the two of you were going because I'd bug him nonstop until he'd agree to bring something back for me. I also know that you always tried to make others feel good. You would let Haibara mess with your hair and you always laughed at my jokes, regardless of how bad they were or how well you knew me. You didn't laugh today."
You go silent, uncrossing your arms and letting them fall to your sides before leaning back into the couch cushions. There's an almost shy look on your face as you study him, a small smile tugging at your lips as you do so. Gojo hums lightly, seemingly pleased with your actions.
"Okay, so maybe you do know what I was like when I was in high school," you begrudgingly admit, shifting your body towards Gojo as you rest your arm on the back of the couch. "But if you think that's enough to butter me up so that I accept your proposal, then you're mistaken."
"That's where you're wrong," he says teasingly, wagging a finger in your direction. "You need this marriage more than I do. From what I hear, your clan's almost done for."
Your features harden at his words, and Gojo mentally kicks himself when he realizes that he's managed to put you on the defensive once again. He sighs softly, twisting his body to mirror yours and gently reaching out to grab your hand, giving you ample time to move away if you wished to do so.
You do your best to repress a shiver as his hand brushes yours, and he hesitates slightly before he makes the decision to actually hold your hand.
"Just let me help you."
There's a flash of blue as he glances at you over his sunglasses, sincerity shining bright in his eyes. You release a breath you didn't even know you had been holding in, blinking a few times before gently pulling your hand out of his grasp.
"I have three conditions," you say quietly, bringing your hand back to your lap.
"Do you really think you're in a position to make demands?" Gojo asks softly, causing your gaze to fall to the couch. There's no malice in his words, only genuine curiosity present as he studies you intently. His tone only makes your heart ache more, and you almost wish he had been harsh with his words.
You spare a glance at him, and when he sees your eyes shining with conviction, he laugh in surprise.
"I like you," he comments, leaning forwards and giving you a full view of his eyes. He looks amused as he tucks one leg underneath the other, a futile attempt to get comfortable. "I agree to whatever conditions you have."
"What?" you ask, eyes narrowing as he nods. "You haven't even heard what I want."
"I'm sure they're reasonable but I'll bite," he says, his face turning serious as he waves his hand. "Let's hear them."
"First, if you want me to marry you, you can't keep me at home," you state. swallowing harshly as you nod your head firmly. He looks slightly taken aback at your words, a quiet hum leaving his lips as he nods. "I will continue to be a sorcerer and take missions as they're assigned to me."
He opens his mouth to speak, only to get cut off when words keep tumbling out of your mouth.
"A-And when we eventually move in together, I won't be doing everything alone. Chores will be split evenly between the two of us."
Gojo nods, eyebrows knitting together as he mulls over your words. "That's to be expected. Anything else?"
You take a deep sigh, squaring your shoulders in an attempt to make yourself look more confident before you meet his eyes with a steely glare. "No means no. I don't care if we're married, you respect me and my decisions when it comes to anything intimate. You will wait for my consent before our relationship progresses any further in any way."
The silence that comes after your words is nerve-wracking, and you start to feel frustrated tears build up when Gojo finally speaks.
"Ah, I see you've already met with Naoya," he remarks, leaning back slightly. There's a pensive look on his face and the hand that had previously held yours retreats to his side. You think that he seems almost apologetic as he studies you.
"Yeah," you mutter bitterly, shoulders dropping as you think about the Zen'in. "He wasn't very pleasant."
"I'm sorry," Gojo says quietly.
"Why? It's not your fault he's such a misogynistic prick."
There's a tense silence before you're opening your mouth again, words spilling out before you can stop yourself.
"I had barely stepped through the door before he was checking me out," you mutter, pressing yourself closer into the couch as you curl into yourself. "He told me that he could make me the happiest person in the world as long as I listened to him. That my place was to stand behind him and bear his children and when I asked about my duties as a jujutsu sorcerer, he laughed and said that a woman had no place in that line of work. You're right, I don't like him either."
"I agree to your conditions," Gojo repeats firmly, nodding his head when you look up at him in surprise. "It's a win-win situation if you really think about it. Your clan keeps keeping on, you don't have to end up with that slimy waste of space, and my own clan elders will stop pestering me about settling down. It doesn't have to be anything you don't want it to be. We'll get along just great as friends, I'm sure of it."
"What about when they start pestering you about having children?" you ask, eyebrows knit together in concern as your mind races.
"We'll burn that bridge when we get to it, or however that saying goes," Gojo says, shrugging his shoulders as he rolls his eyes. His statement draws a giggle out of you, and Gojo watches you with soft eyes as you press a hand to your mouth in order to muffle the sound.
"So what do you say?" He asks, eyes shining with an emotion you can't quite place as he holds his hand out. "Will you marry me?"
Your shoulders still shake with remnants of your giggles as you lean forwards, placing your hand in his before giving him a firm shake. The two of you stay like that for a while, wide smiles on your faces as you study each other. You're certain that you've made the right decision.
"It would be my honor, Gojo Satoru."
You're summoned to the meeting room a few days later, being met with the sight of your grandmother sitting regally in her favorite wooden chair.
You kneel in front of her, bowing your head in respect before she reaches for your hand and guides you into the seat next to her. There's silence as she pours you a cup of tea, the gold accents on the porcelain teapot shining brightly in the sunlight streaming in through the window.
"Well, have you decided?" your grandmother asks, finally breaking the silence and waiting for your response. You hesitate for a few seconds, wringing your hands before you nod.
"Come winter, I will be marrying Gojo Satoru," you say, willing your voice to stay steady as you look up at your grandmother. You're taken aback by the sparkle in her eye, and she merely nods at your words as she fights off a smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" you ask, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she gazes at you.
"I just think you made the right decision. That's all," she says casually, waving you off as she struggles to get onto her feet. You're by her side in a second, gently grabbing her elbow and steadying her as she straightens.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that while the Zen'in clan sent a proposal, Gojo Satoru himself came to our estate in person to ask for a marriage with our clan," she explains, grabbing your hand and tugging you a few steps closer. "For your hand in marriage, specifically."
"Yes, I know. He did that because he knew I would be betrothed to Zen'in Naoya otherwise," you say in response, shaking your head as you remember the other man. "He's not a kind man, grandmother. Gojo and I used to be schoolmates. He was simply doing me a favor."
"How strange, considering that his proposal came in before the Zen'in clan's did. And he had the intention to court you beforehand as well," she responds airily, walking towards the door as your eyes widen. "But then again, what do I know? I'm getting old and my memory isn't as sharp as it used to be."
A sly smile makes it's way onto her face as you watch her reach the doorway, and she simply sends you a teasing wink as she watches the understanding cross your face.
"Do your old grandmother a favor, yes?" she asks, her eyes still shining fondly as she leans against the doorframe. "Give him a chance. He cares about you and I think he can genuinely make you happy. And he's quite easy on the eyes, you know."
"Grandma!" you yelp, feeling your cheeks heat up as she laughs and waves you off and disappears down the hall. You're left alone to mull over her words, and you can't help the way your heart seems to flutter at her admission.
You think that being married to Gojo Satoru won't be all that bad after all.