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~Satoru POV~
I knew. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, I knew without a shadow of a doubt he was it—the one made for me alone. He was absolute perfection—not in a traditional sense, but in the sense that every flaw, scar, and blemish was absolutely perfect. They told the story of his life: how he broke, how he picked himself back up, and how he healed his wounds. They told the story of how he made it into this life. Because if he didn’t have them, well, then there would be a very good chance we never would have met in this life. I cherished each of them.
I watched from the sidelines as he laughed wholeheartedly with his friends, as I so often did, and smiled when the sun glinted off a sparkle of tears at the corner of his eyes from the sheer force of it. It tugged on a place deep inside my chest, and it swelled and ached with tender pride.
The sun caught on his sun-kissed skin and mussed cherry blossom hair, putting the shades of fresh spring flowers to shame. Yuuji’s heart was so large, so loving, and all-encompassing. He stood in the limelight for sure, but instead of shrouding everything, he brought out the vibrancy of them.
Yuuji, my Yuuji.
I see him watch me with those reverent honeyed eyes, as if he sees straight through the mask of who I need to be, directly to who I am. It’s disarming, and I catch myself internally swooning each time, wanting to bow at his feet and declare my undying fealty until the end of time.
Instead, I bow my head, close my eyes, and declare to the universe: as long as I draw breath, I swear to you, Yuuji, that I shall do my utmost to ensure you want for nothing. I will provide the tangible and intangible—a wealth of love, home, and happiness. I’ll nurture you as you continue to learn and grow in any role you choose. I can’t promise a life without sadness or strife, but I swear I will be there to support you should you stumble. Take comfort and shelter in my embrace, and I will weather the storm, not for you, but with you.
I promise, I vow myself to him not because of this bond, but because it’s him. Not every soul-bound mate is the love of their life—nor is it always healthy and fulfilling. The soulbond’s existence was born as a way for the universe to try and increase the chances of survival and viability for couples. It draws two people together and gives them the choice to accept or reject it. Once it is accepted, a piece of your soul is shared in a covalent bond, cycling between the pair, strengthening and empowering them—a boon, a gift.
But Yuuji—my soulmate—I love irrevocably and without doubt. He holds my mind, body, and soul in the palm of his hands. He could crush them in an instant; his feelings could change, and he could choose to walk another path, but I will never stray. Even if it wasn’t me he chose, I would bear him no ill will. I will ensure he’s happy and loved until he draws his final breath on this mortal plane. I can feel my heart become a lump in my throat and bite back the burning edge of wetness behind my eyes. But I am lucky, truly the luckiest man alive, because I know he treasures this bond—me.
With this eternal vow, I curse him–us with this undying love. Let it be twisted and inseparable, transcending time and space. This life, the next, and even the afterlife, I will love you, Yuuji.
Blinking back the tears that threaten to fall, I see him take notice that I’m starting, and then he does it—the thing he always does that makes my stomach lift, and suddenly I can’t breathe. My fingers tremble ever so slightly, and my lips part; my feet freeze in place, and he smiles brilliantly and blindingly. My heart skips a beat and goes into hyperdrive, pounding in my chest at the recognition.
Before I can even register it, he’s sprinting to me with his unnatural speed. No matter how fast he moves, it’s still slow motion every time. And then he’s here—hard-muscled body launched into mine—arms thrown around my neck as he nuzzles into the side of my face.
My heart wants to explode from the sheer elation of being wrapped in the weight of Yuuji’s body, his alluring scent, and the feel of his heart beating in time with mine. Our souls are so close that I feel his emotions course through my veins, and it makes my knees weak. Love isn’t a strong enough word to convey what I feel for him. It’s beyond humankind’s comprehension of the feeling.
As I twirl him around, the melodic sound of Yuuji’s laughter fills my ears, reenergizing me more than the best night’s sleep–which I happen to be getting quite a bit of these days.
The moment I set him down on his feet, he snuggles deeply into my chest and then looks up at me with those mesmerizing honey eyes.“Satoru! I’ve been waiting for you!” Yuuji laughs, sending a shiver down my spine and causing my toes to curl.
I smirk, leaning down to press our foreheads together, nose to nose. “Sorry, sorry, I got…” I paused, conveying my thoughts into his eyes, “…distracted.”
A lopsided grin graces those tempting, kissable lips. “Satoruuu! Do I need to start wearing a disguise?” he questioned, lightly chastising me.
I snatch him closer in a suffocating bear hug and lament, “My dear, adorable Yuuji! I fear—it would be in vain. No matter your disguise, I could see you through anything!”
He laughs, pinching my sides, and says, “What if you get hurt while distracted by me? I don’t think I could live with that.”
I place him down but pull him closer by his waistband and say, “I guess you’ll just have to keep me close at all times then, Yuuji. Nothing else could fix it, I’m afraid.” I nod very seriously. “Just join us at the hip. It’s the only way.” I sigh but give him a wickedly sinful grin.
The way he looks up at me, cupping my cheek with all the love and adoration in those eyes, I melt all over again. “I guess it can’t be helped then.” Yuuji grins and lifts himself onto his tiptoes, pressing the most tender of kisses to my lips. “Stay by my side then.” I side a hand into his hair, cradling his head to kiss him properly. “Like you even have to ask,” I mumble against his lips.
With that cheeky tongue, he retorts, “It wasn’t a question,” he parts his lips, demanding a deeper kiss, to which I am all too happy to oblige.
I lick his bottom lip, and with a sigh, he yields his body weight to my arms, sliding his tongue along mine. It’s a burst of heat and passion that burns between us, leaving us panting and glassy-eyed. The soul bond between us sings, loud and strong, weaving that thread of fate between us in an intricate and unbreakable pattern.
“My Yuuji…” My voice wavers slightly when he rubs his nose gently against mine. “I love you too, Satoru,” Yuuji whispers in return, his fingers tracing the contours of my chest. We share the same breath, suspended in a moment that feels both infinite and fleeting.
The world could crumble around us, yet I’d have no regrets—except for the cruel brevity of time. I yearned to spend more of it with him. At that moment, though, I clung to Yuuji, my entire universe encapsulated in his presence. “And I love you,” I replied, my soul laid bare and vulnerable.
I caught sight of my reflection in Yuuji’s eyes, and for a moment, I almost didn’t recognize the man staring back at me. Gojo Satoru had always been the reckless troublemaker, the one who never took anything seriously, living by his own rules and mocking his surroundings.
On more than one occasion, I’d been told that I was the epitome of perfection—as long as I kept my mouth shut because, well—my personality was considered horrible. They weren’t wrong. I am selfish and prideful, and I see the rules of society as suggestions—guidelines.
Gojo Satoru, the ‘Honored One,’ was the strongest sorcerer alive, gifted with both the Six Eyes ability and the Limitless technique. He wasn’t merely a man; he was a tool, an ultimate weapon. So, I remained detached, wrapped in self-pride, using my infinity to keep everyone at arm’s length. It felt safer that way.
But when I looked at the man reflected in those honeyed eyes—forever changed by Yuuji—I saw vulnerability, genuine emotion, and above all else, happiness.
Even before our bond was solidified, Yuuji effortlessly brought out this transformation in the current version of Gojo Satoru. Our connection began with a curse, fueled by temporary death and nurtured by fighting side by side and watching movies in that musty old basement in the safe house.
Our time spent together healed me long before we made the choice to make it permanent, more unbreakable than any marriage or promise. We were both forever changed and healed when our fingers intertwined and our lips met for the first time, when Yuuji looked up at me, like he was doing in this very moment, and offered his soul to me. If anyone could teach someone to love, it would be Yuuji, and I have learned to love him with all I am.
The moment was so rudely interrupted when Nobara, ever the cynic, couldn’t resist a comment. “Can’t you keep this bizarre soulmate bond–thing, confined to the privacy of your own home.” She mock-gagged, pointing a finger toward her open mouth.
I pouted, “But he’s just so cute! The whole world needs to know he’s mine sweet, Yuuji!” squeezing and playfully swinging Yuuji around in my arms.
Megumi simply shook his head, “Trust me, everyone knows. Even if they were blind they can hear you loud and clear.” he said, embarrassed, and averted his gaze from our unabashed display of affection.
“Satoru!” Yuuji laughed but clung to my neck nonetheless. “Put me down!”
Stealing one more kiss from Yuuji’s lips, I gave in and set him down on his feet. Then, I turned him in my arms, nuzzling my head against his. “Only because you asked so nicely!” I smirked, winking.
“Gross. Seriously, get a room.” Nobara rolled her eyes, but a feline grin twitched at the corner of her mouth even as I said, “That is the plan!” She just stifled another groan of irritation.
Placing her hands on her hips, she flipped her hair. “So, Itadori, where did you say this boyfriend of yours was taking us out to dinner? Don’t forget you promised to go shopping afterward.”
I couldn’t help the smirk on my face. She was honest, but she wasn’t stupid. If supporting Yuuji’s boyfriend–who still happened to be their teacher and soulmate meant that she’d reap the benefits and he wasn’t getting hurt, she’d find a way to make the most of the situation.
I squeezed Yuuji and kissed him on the cheek before letting him out of my arms and watching him walk ahead a step. “Kugisaki!” Yuuji admonished, to which she simply shrugged her shoulders and walked ahead with her hands laced behind her back.
Yuuji hung his head at his friend but then resumed that light laughter and gave me a defeated smile. “I did promise to treat everyone, Yuuji-kun.” I ducked my head down and nosed at his ear. “Better to stay on their good side.” He laughed, turned, grabbed my hand, and tugged me along.
I will follow Yuuji to the ends of the earth if that’s where he wants to go. Because where he went, that was my future, where he stood is my present, where the memories we share is my past and where my heart beats in my chest is my soul and it beats only for him, Itadori Yuuji, my gift in this life.