Chapter Text
It was a warm and humid day when Yuji and his family went to the palace to celebrate the Crown Prince’s tenth birthday. Yuji didn’t like the Crown Prince, Noritoshi Kamo, even if he was his cousin. He always made an ugly face at Yuji whenever they met for family functions or celebrations like these. The last they had seen one another, they had gotten into a fight. Yuji didn’t remember why, but he did know that Kamo-san had left a bruise on Yuji’s chin. Both sides of the family agreed it was Kamo’s fault since he was Yuji’s five year elder. It was little consolation though.
They were in the imperial hall, everyone seated neatly at their zataku on both sides of the aisle. Yuji was leaning against his father’s arm, sleepy from the stuffy air and the new sokutai his mother had forced him into.
“Otousan,” Yuji whined, melting into his father. “When can we go get some dongos?”
His father chuckled, ruffling his head. “Just be patient, Yu-chan. I’ll get you as many as you want when it’s done.”
“Yes, go ahead and spoil the boy,” his grandfather muttered, sitting on the other side of Yuji’s father.
Yuji’s father just hummed, tucking Yuji closer to him. Yuji was nearly asleep when the banging of drums startled him upright. His father rubbed his back, nudging him to sit straight. Yuji looked down to the head of the hall where the Emperor, Queen Dowager, and Crown Prince came out and sat on their respective thrones. Since it was the Crown Prince’s birthday, he came out donned in the ceremonial green and gold sokutai. He looked pale and scared even though he was trying to look serious. Yuji’s uncle, Sukuna, had once called the prince a sickly bird and now, Yuji couldn't get it out of his head.
Yuji pouted, dropping back against his father, instantly bored again, only to be surprised when another announcement tore through the hall. “As the Emperor decrees, a new member of the court will now present themselves.”
“Huh?” Yuji stretched his spine, trying to see who that might be.
Clothes rustled and looks were exchanged. Yuji noticed quite a few faces looking disgruntled. Eyes shifted up the aisle, across from Yuji. Clearly everyone else knew what was going on.
“The Gojo clan will now present.”
The attendant stepped back, away from the center of attention as a tall white-haired figure rose from the crowd. He moved with a cool confidence, a slight smirk on his lips as he stepped onto the red carpet. He wasn’t the clan head so Yuji was confused why he was coming out, but he didn’t really care either. Gojo Saturo was one of Yuji’s favorite people outside of his family. When they did see one another, Gojo-san always took Yuji away on trips without asking anyone. His grandfather always yelled at him after the fact, but Gojo-san always feigned humility. He winked at Yuji now, and Yuji returned the grin with a beaming smile. It took Yuji another second to realize Gojo-san had someone walking alongside him.
It was a black-haired boy trailing behind Gojo-san like a shadow. He was dressed in a simple black silk sokutai, his gaze downcast. There was a somber look to his face, almost etched into his features. Yuji wondered how such a boy ended up with someone like Gojo-san.
“Your Majesty,” Gojo-san said, abruptly and without regard. He glanced over his shoulder, down at the newcomer. He smiled, discreetly holding a hand back to him. The boy reached out a snow-like hand and took it. Gojo-san guided him to stand beside him. “I present Fushiguro Megumi.”
“Fushiguro,” Yuji muttered under his breath then tilted his head up to his father. “Otousan? Who are the Fushiguro clan?” His family had given up on getting him to remember the clan names. All he knew was Gojo, Zenin, and Kamo. Well, and his own clan, Itadori.
His father laughed, softly. “I don’t know. Maybe you can find out.”
The boy--Fushiguro--stepped forward carefully. He glanced up at Gojo then back at the Emperor. He slowly lowered himself to his knees then into a deep bow. “Your Majesty,” he said. Despite his hesitant movements, his voice was clear and direct. When he raised his head, his gaze was sharp without being defiant.
His mother side beside Yuji. “Your hi-baachan isn’t going to like that,” his mother said, sharing a quick smile with Yuji then her husband. Yuji made a sound, a cross between a sigh and grumble. His great grandmother, the Queen Dowager, was never happy. She pinched Yuji’s face every time, telling him he would have a disappointing future if he didn't start listening to his eldrs. She was vocal like that. Yuji’s maternal grandfather, the Emperor, on the other hand, never seemed all that bothered. He smiled, slightly amused, the same way he did with Yuji.
“Well, well, enough of that,” Gojo-san said, gesturing to Fushiguro Megumi to get up. He did so, his gaze still fixed on the Emperor until slowly he looked away, sourly. “Your Majesty,” Gojo-san said before turning and walking away.
Finally, the celebration started in earnest with music and dancers and food. Yuji was held hostage at his zataku until he finished his food. “You’re going to cry later,” his mother said, patting his head encouragingly. “Now, finish up.”
Yuji inhaled as fast as he could before flying to his feet and scurrying down the hall. Just as he was leaving the hall, he remembered the Fushiguro kid. He turned around and snuck behind the neat rows of guests before slipping to the front. He found himself behind Gojo Satoru. “Gojo-san,” he whispered right into his ear.
“Oh? Who do we have here?” Gojo-san twisted, grinning, grabbing Yuji and holding him up like a stuffed animal. Yuji laughed, both of them ignoring the looks they were garnering. Gojo-san lowered Yuji and placed him beside him, hand on his head. “It’s little Yuji-kun.”
Yuji twisted, his eyes narrowing in on who he had come over for in the first place. “Do you want to play?”
Fushiguro Megumi regarded him in shock before quickly curdling into annoyance, ears pink. “No,” he grumbled.
“He means yes,” Gojo-san said, assuring Yuji. “Megumi, go on.”
“No,” Fushiguro pressed, avoiding eye contact now.
Yuji leaned forward. “You don’t have to, Fushiguro, but it would be nice if you did. I promise I won’t let the others bully you.”
Fushiguro’s gaze snapped up, irritated, but not angry. “Fine,” he muttered. Yuji immediately took his hand, pulled him to his feet, and ran off.
The other kids were playing outside the hall, kicking around a wicker ball. They fumbled and fell over one another as they caught sight of Yuji.
“It’s the Tiger . . .” someone whispered loudly.
“This is Fushiguro,” Yuji announced. “And he’s our new friend!”
Yuji spent the next two weeks at Gojo clan’s ancestral home. It was tucked away mid-way up a mountain a few miles outside the city and was shrouded by dense forest that was a welcome balm from the heat.
Yuji didn’t often come and stay with the Gojo clan because he knew Gojo-san didn’t get along with his parents. The only reason he stayed was because Gojo-san invited him. Yuji’s parents didn’t have a qualm with him staying away from home as the Itadori estate was several miles outside the city with no neighbors and no one outside his family to interact with. It was either Gojo-san’s estate or the palace, and he would rather avoid that at all costs. There was also his uncle’s estate which was the midway from the Itadori estate and the city. Yuji liked visiting his uncle, but he was away for long bouts of time so he could rarely spend so long with him.
Yuji was excited though. He had liked Megumi from their evening playing with the other children even if Megumi hardly stepped in to kick the ball or smile. “Megumi,” Yuji exclaimed upon seeing the boy by Gojo-san’s side. Yuji jumped off the cart he had taken here and ran over. Megumi went stiff in Yuji’s hug, and when Yuji pulled back, he found Megumi’s ears bright pink.
“Why are you so loud?” Megumi muttered, rubbing his ear.
Gojo-san chuckled.
“Satoru,” Geto-san called. He was coming down the steps. Unlike Gojo-san who looked unkept despite having refined clothing, Geto-san always looked clean and put together. It probably had more to do with mannerisms than physical appearance. “We should get going. Ah, Yuji-kun, you’ve arrived.”
Yuji bowed, smiling. “Are you going for a mission?” he asked.
Gojo-san ruffled Yuji’s hair. “Yes, yes. We’ll be back in a few days.” With that, the two of them left.
While Yuji was visiting, the servants and members of the estate left Yuji and Megumi alone, so they spent most days exploring the estate, wading through the nearby river, or lay around at the back of the estate on the engawa, eating sweets, hardly conscious from the heat.
Megumi was quite prickly at first, but he followed Yuji wherever he went, even if he didn’t necessarily participate in the activity. For example, searching for frogs. Yuji took the task very seriously. Megumi sat at the edge of the river instead, legs crossed, amusing himself by using riverside mud, pebbles, sticks, and leaves to make a rather impressive village. When they returned to the stream one day and found the village had fallen apart with the rain, Yuji helped Megumi bring all the materials back up the slope and into the main house. Together they built up a city under the covered walkway outside Megumi's bedroom.
At night, they slept in Megumi’s room, Yuji having abandoned his own room one day in. Eventually, they ended up sleeping in the same bed after tiring themselves out having a battle with their legs or laughing about something silly that had happened during the day. Yuji had only ever slept in a room with someone else, if not the same bed. Even with his uncle, Yuji was allowed to sleep in the same room, though he drew the line at the same bed. So, it was comforting sleeping with Megumi even if he was mainly skin and bones and his skin was always cold. By the end of Yuji’s stay, they had gotten into the habit of holding hands while they slept.
Eventually, he did have to leave. Sukuna was returning, and Yuji always went to see him when he did. Apparently, it was the respectful thing to do since the rest of Yuji’s family wasn’t welcome on Sukuna’s estate. Besides, he hadn’t seen him in so long; he missed his uncle despite his grumpy behavior.
When it came time for Yuji to leave though, Megumi was more silent than usual. He didn’t look Yuji in the eye when Yuji tried to say goodbye. He just muttered, “Bye,” before running away.
“I’m impressed,” Gojo said, hands on his hips.
“What?” Yuji asked, tilting his head up at him.
“Nothing.” He ruffled Yuji’s hair. “Travel safe. Give my regards to your uncle.”
“He doesn’t like you though.”
Gojo snickered. “Bye!”