Chereads / Worlds Away (JJK AU) / Chapter 8 - Hypothalamus

Chapter 8 - Hypothalamus

"…I can't fucking believe this…" Naoya huffs as he wrenches his fingers into his right arm just below the shoulder, "That was actually a close one. What the fuck is she?" He squeezes harder once noticing too much blood still leaking out, mixed feelings finding life within. Eyes trained on his wound, Naoya swiftly tracks through the familiar corridor, not even realizing that's he's no longer alone.

"So tell me little Naoya...", a rancorously tense voice stalks the Zenin's ears and causes him to halt, "How'd it go?"

Getou asks this but clearly already knows the answer. The tall mysterious shot-caller allows an uneasy moment of silence to cross them before letting on that he's actually furious with the answer. Suguru stands about 5 ft away, leaning his left side against a wall that becomes the hallway that Naoya was heading, towards their healer. His arms are crossed over his black suit that glints thin maroon pinstripe. Getou's left leg is crossed over the right with the toe tips of his rich black leather shoes pointing into the grey marbled floors. His jet-black hair is pulled back into a loose bun that leaves abandoned stray pieces draping down his face. Suguru at least doesn't appear to be particularly bothered but he's never really been one that's easy to read.

Naoya's body stutters when striking mid-step. He's a little shaken that he was so wrapped up in the one-sided fight with Elska that he didn't notice the man's presence but then turns to Getou, " Sound the bells and call the tailor, it went fucking great!"

Getou's eyes become aggravated slits.

Naoya proceeds mockingly, "She even tried to kill me!", throwing up his injured arm and  assisting the lift with his still gripping left hand. A chill swerves down the Zenin's spine when the fleeting reminder of her energy antagonizes his memory. Now lowering his tone to properly convey his anguish over her rejection, Naoya continues with clear defeat, "What the fuck does it look like you twat?"

"I can't believe that little girl is giving everyone so much hassle.", Getou retorts in a condescending tone, figuratively kicking the prideful man while he's already down.

"Yeah, well she got your ass too now didn't she?.", ego will not allow the Zenin to take the fall. 

Annoyed, Getou inquires, "Am I just going to have to do this Naoya?", a smile now begins to curl on Getou's face, "You know if I have to do it though, then I'll definitely just keep her for myself. It's proof that she's too much for the likes of you." Suguru is trying to test Naoya; trying to see exactly what would've caused the otherwise flawless right hand man of his to falter so often now. Is it the girl? Getou's assuming it is. He notes that Naoya doesn't usually show interest in women except maybe the maids at his estate whom he threatens his way into their pants. That's all primal though.

Other well known families have been attempting to secure Zenin seed since all four son's were born with strength but Naoya being the youngest had the time on his side to hold out for his powerful promised womb. Many women have offered themselves to the young Zenin right before Suguru's eyes but these past few months, Naoya has kept to himself, turning every single one of them down. Getou's noticing something different in Naoya's demeanor whenever the Oda girl is brought up and is curiously wondering if there's something he's overlooked with her, "So what do you say little Naoya? Want me to take her off your plate?"

Naoya straightens up to this remark, instantly searching for a valid reason to not allow Getou's direct interference. "Not necessary." He grips his shoulder again reapplying the pressure he gradually lessened while being in conversation, "I need to teach her a lesson and I plan to. This shit right here is will not go unanswered." Naoya's face scrunches in anger as he remembers how good Elska felt to him, how right he felt in that moment. She weighs him down with some kind of grounding tool that he barely can fathom himself. There is no doubt in his mind that there is chemistry between them but its so unbridled and sharp that it makes his head spin. His mind flashes back to her parted lips and wanton eyes when they were in the grass, the experience now conjuring affinity. It was going so well, so perfectly!

That is, until she screamed that fucking bastard's  name, 'I was the one making her feel that, not fucking Gojo. IT WAS ME GOD DAMNIT!' The Zenin's breath constricts in his throat for a second as he relives the way she looked up at him while he was inside her and how he wants more of that.

So much more.

Naoya didn't realize he was in need of her confirmation, her approval but now he's back to being enraged at the fact that if he hadn't used is projection technique, he'd be dead. If Choso hadn't assisted him using his shadow manipulation to relocate Naoya from the blast, he'd be dead.

The beauty he loses sleep over really tried to end him and almost did.

The Zenin's speed is unmatched and it's not as if Elska was incredibly fast but it's almost like her technique distorted time itself. Naoya can gaze at something and break down how fast its traveling by mere instinct due to his inherited technique but there was nothing to gauge with her. That red lightning wasn't there and then it was. He knows that doesn't make sense even with the vast capabilities that some shaman hold, 'But is she really only a shaman? Is she a shaman at all?' Naoya's now compartmentalizing his questions, trying to keep his is overall excitement of her to a minimum so that his story doesn't seem odd.

Toji and him agreed to keep the pheromones and the sensation felt from her bite a from Getou after the night at her and Gojo's apartment. They didn't want the creep having access to this knowledge knowing that Getou would use that immediately to his full advantage…like they were trying to. If Naoya can just keep it all a secret until they're wed then that would be enough. Suguru wouldn't be able to openly act against Naoya then, not with the full support of the Zenin clan. He's unsure but is beginning to pick up on more than his boss's impatience; Naoya can tell Suguru's interest in her is growing as well. ' Too bad, Getou wouldn't be able to have her.', a whispered promise from the Elders circulates and elevates him but this leads Naoya to ponder on her well-being since he left her during his escape.

"See to it that she arrives with you next time then. I'm honestly losing my patience with this remedial task.", Getou straightens himself as he stands from the wall; gesturing Naoya to continue to his destination. The ungrateful Zenin walks past him quickly with a grunt of acknowledgment as he makes his way to the healer earning locked eyes that follow. Getou applauds him for that performance as he still is suspicious about Naoya's behavior regarding the girl, he's too worked up for it go unnoticed, 'Maybe I am is missing something.'

As Getou walks down the hall to the right, he rakes through all the aggregated facts that have been gathered about this troublesome woman. He knows she was originally human but that her natural blood stored ancient and unique dormant abilities. Suguru perks up at the thought of her presumed power, it sends an exciting shiver through his body when he considers the future he knows and the possibilities.

Oda was being studied by the Elders for years with the help of the Titer clan while they waited for to her to be placed in the power struggle of her world, dangling her before these fanged human-like beasts to begin their operation of morphing her into a powerful weapon. Being turned by the pure blood that she coincidentally grew to love was the first step.

He snickers cruelly, "Hopeless woman."

The sub-transfusion that took place within her once bitten allowed his blood to recognize and activate her hypothalamus which would in turn transfigure her pituitary gland, disrupting her human biology. All of her neuro pathways would then be rewired automatically to mirror that of her ancestors. She would be able to access and harness the abilities that were nestled into genetic coding, making her valuable and unique beyond compare. Getou knows the Elders were in contact with those that ruled that world but they were known as the Council on her planet. The two governing entities came to some sort of agreement in exchange for their cooperation in the development of the girl. The rulers in the Council seemed keen on removing Oda once they saw what she became. Suguru also knows that agreement fell through the moment Gojo appeared and announced he was going to take her even if most of the damage to the Council had already been done by then.

'What a sight that scene would've been. The destruction that ensued that day to her world would take an unimaginable amount of time to repair, if it could be. So many murdered…their whole hierarchy in fact.', Getou smiles at the thought and determines, 'They were scum anyway.' 

He reaches the dark mahogany door to his study with a sigh of relief. This day has already been too long; a fact that screams in the silence that follows him through the doorframe. Suguru can only taunt himself upon grasping how draining this ordeal that has become his life is. Elska in combination with her value only heightens the stakes at hand.

Getou's more than aware that most of her abilities have been repressed thanks to Gojo's dabbling in the recruitment of brainwashing antics. The Elders were not going to just let Satoru control her at the level of strength she'd reached. 'That also makes her imprisonment by Gojo even more peculiar though...', a caustic twinge of intuition sparking interest over what kind of details fill the blanks, 'What conditions kept her as his prey?' He wouldn't mind knowing the tea.

Regardless, since the Elders were unable to thwart Gojo's kidnapping they maneuvered a sneaky little miswrite for the conjuring of the memory manipulation technique he requested, causing her to lose everything. Whenever Getou pictures it, the corners of his mouth arch pleasantly. This defensive move would at least allow them more time to form a concrete plan for her extraction from Gojo since she would have to relearn her powers all over again. Getou desperately wishes he could've seen that unfurl in person, his hubris now pouring out into the open "HA! I bet it was brilliant!!" He loves the idea of Gojo panicking like a little bitch after the arrogant shithead bit off more than he could chew.

"Her breeding potential is off the charts...", Getou reiterates for the thousandth time. It has been made clear that whoever has Elska Oda's womb will secure the future. The powerful offspring that she and a suitable mate will create are thought to rival the Gojo clan's capabilities such as Satoru himself. If the Gojo clan got her then it would be over for them and with this in mind, Getou believes he understands Gojo's reasoning for taking and hiding her. "She was to be his ultimate downfall, the Achilles heel grown of a new grotesque leg…but what about Zenin?" Getou stares through the walls, facing towards the general direction of their healer's office, 'Is he simply attracted to her appearance?'. Getou finds this hard to believe as he personally thinks Elska to be far too skinny and unattractive in general. To him, a pretty woman is defined by curves, meat and thighs; none of which Oda has.

'Is it her prowess?', this persisting tumor of a feeling gnaws at him while he considers, 'Naoya always seemed to hate women, least that's how he acts. Any mention of having one always involved the emphasis of him requiring them to be obedient, well behaved, and subservient…that of which this Elska bitch is definitely not. '

'What did she do to him? What is it about her?!' Suguru continues racking his brain until he drifts into a much-needed nap.

———————————————————————————————————–

Toji opens the door into the damp and cramped stone cellar. The air is so brisk that his breath takes formless shape for seconds before dancing away. Fushiguro's sharp emerald eyes narrow while he revolts to the fact that seeing Gojo so fucking worthless doesn't bring him the same delight, like it used to.

Satoru's slumped forward as if he's sleeping but even while trying to recuperate the strain for captivity stains the proud shaman's features. 

"Stupid fuck...", Toji takes a moment to brood over how convoluted everything has become, thus skewering his plan over hot coals. It's not really Gojo's fault at all for once but just the cocky bastard's importance alone steals his sunshine. Toji recollects visits while chewing his lip.

------------About 3 weeks after Gojo was sealed--------------

Toji saw Naoya leaving the room in the giddiest of ways; it's always unnerving, how flamboyant the Zenin's mannerisms are. He knew the boy was excited about Elska but come on, 'And to think that fucking goof-ball wants to claim her himself…ridiculous.'

Back then, Toji came to taunt the broken man with stories of how he was going to be the one to feed and tend to Elska while also sharing stories of how he already had. The giant revealed his plan of slowly earning her trust, wanting to gradually build dependency with him until she's as hooked as he is and he's granted the access of whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Toji was peacocking to make up for all the times he had to stand by and watch that arrogant dick parade her around. Toji always sensed the underhanded gestures that were directed towards him with Elska, Satoru simply made the mistake of thinking the rug beneath his feet was Earth itself. It felt so grand to be placed in the position to dish is all right back, to hurt Gojo with her just as he'd been hurt previously.  He justifies his cruelties with, 'Perspective is a beautiful thing', but in all actuality, Toji has allowed it all to make him a spiteful man.

"Perspective...", the irony surrounding him as if it were in the form of ancient seals as well. This time, Toji's visit holds a different purpose entirely and he has to make this quick which is hard considering all that he needs to explain.

Toji has a plan.

He's navigated down every other possible avenue before coming to this elegiacal realization but he now understands that it's quite possibly the only way to save her from the fate he had a hand in fashioning. Toji was no longer welcomed here and if he didn't go unnoticed he would be met with a barrage of resistance for sure.

  "Gojo, look at me you sad fuck, we don't have a lot of time." Toji states in a quiet tone after immediately crouching down eye level, giving the silver shit a few soft smacks to the face. "Gojo!", the tense whisper seems to siren loudly though it was ultimately no louder than central air.

Gojo's eyes peel open halfway and are aimlessly speculating for a second before he comes to and is aware of Toji being in front of him. The silver shaman then forms a glare that seemingly makes his bright blue eyes darken, like the skies being overcome by storm clouds.

Toji masks his discomfort from the ominously telling expression, "Look…I know I got you into this…and I'd fucking leave you here too damn it…but I'm going to need your help." Toji continues with an uncharacteristically friendly tone, "You're kind of a cunt, Gojo, I'll just say it. I fucking hate you, alright? I did all of this because fuck you and the high horse you were born on." 

Gojo remains eerily stoic with the exception of his deadening eyes which only shade into a deeper, murkier midnight.

"You don't deserve Elska either you sick fuck; I always knew there was something off there but we'll get to that. All you have to do at this moment is concentrate and conserve your energy until I return and be ready to fucking go. You'll be worthless if you can't also fight." Toji pauses for emphasis as Gojo's defiance radiates into the room, "This plan's success banks on you holding your own once you're out of these." He's speaking as clearly as he can with the pace he's slinging words while he's pointing to the talisman.

Satoru is confused, so in the dark about everything other than experiences these assholes have shared with his Elska. They've been so virtuous about keeping him up to date on those occurrences of course. He feels his glare harshen as he plays the images in his mind of the recent encounters that were described to him. The pictures seared into the space behind his eyes consists of Elska being fucked in various positions by Toji and all of her satisfaction along with Naoya's verbal litany of intentions to land between her thighs. 

It breaks something in him every single time but the problem is, they're only shattering the few fragments of sanity Satoru inhabits. If only Gojo could smile like he wants to.

'I'm going to massacre them all, one by one and I'll make the others watch while I take my time dousing in their horror and repay their kindness thoroughly. All of those experiments I did and my enemies still dare to challenge me? I cannot fucking waaait to gu-... huh, what? What does he mean he's breaking me out?' Gojo rummages his mind at the possibilities that could have led Toji to this point, 'Clearly everything is not in his control now...', which Satoru loves but also fears. 'Toji has to know that busting me out means I go straight back to Elska...so is the situation really that bad? Is this another fucking trap?!'

As if to understand the questions in Gojo's eyes, Toji responds, "They've changed the course of their plans and are moving everything up. We don't have time and I don't have the man power to handle all of them. They're going to make their move soon." He sees Gojo's eyes widen to his meaning, knowing that if Getou gets his way, she'll have a horrific future of being bred and wed against her will. Toji proceeds with, "I know this is partially my fault Gojo but the past aside...", the giant sighs with transparency, "I cannot allow myself to let that fate befall her. They don't deserve her either."

You'd think this glimmer of humanity pouring from Toji would move Satoru in some way but all it does is sink his heart lower into darkness. He wants to scream, punch, obliterate the fucking world or at least scratch his balls but this untimely imprisonment that deprives him from daylight or a sense of orientation has laid effect in the form of antsy eyes. It's the only way he can express a fraction of his agony. Toji Fushiguro has taken it upon himself to defile his beautiful Elska over and over again and through this new relationship, is now confident enough to expose the depths of that care, 'You'll be the first slab of meat I dissect...I have a new paralysis agent...' The prospect of getting even begins to calm his restless soul. 

"There is one thing that has to happen before all of this though Gojo…you didn't think I'd really let that go, did you?" Toji's foul expression returns after witnessing the audacious shaman's gears turning in way for retribution, "She needs to know…about everything."

Satoru's lungs explode internally as his screams can only be heard in his head, ;FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!! That makes so much more sense…why he's willing to bail me out of here...STUPID CUNT!!" Satoru thinks of how his love will react to the wicked truths he's veiled from her. 'There's no way she'll understand. Would she? Of fucking course not. Who would? No one has ever really understood me...'

Shit, he barely understands himself nowadays.

Everything he's worked for; for him, for her, for the us that became…he's going to lose it all.

He's going to lose her.

His Elska.

Gojo would rather scorch the entire fucking face of the planet rather than live a life without her. There's no point and he knows this in his very core. He would take as many people down with him, shaman and non-shaman alike, destruction would be the only word survivors takeaway as the entire system of language crumbles in awe of his might.

'My love...my luck has officially run out...' Satoru's eyes begin to water as his heart sinks to what feels like his ankles and then it seeps out of the pads of his feet. 'Is it really going to end this way?' He blinks reflexively, sending a tear down his right cheek unbothered by his fearsome air shifting to that of a severely eradicated man. A lost man. A man who feels he has failed.

'My love...'

"I'll be nice enough to leave that up for you to divulge. I'll be there for when she desires a familiar touch and security.", he layers on in a matter of fact tone, "…but if you don't tell her Gojo, you can bet your ass I will and I ain't sugar coating shit. You fucked this up the moment you decided to do what you did to her.", nearly spitting on Satoru with how irrational the subject makes him. Since Toji is cognizant of everything that has yet been brought to light, he's confident that once it surfaces Gojo will be removed from her good graces permanently.

Toji now stands up understanding that he's been there too long. He looks down on the silver haired, dejected man before turning to the door. He's really not that sure about this plan either but its the lesser of evils as some would say but Toji can't help but wonder how long he'll have before Satoru retaliates once free. He's not dumb enough to think this was enough of a threat to have the mythomaniac come clean. Pushing that from his mind, he reaches for the knob and shares, "Be ready for a signal. It should come from Choso if this all works out.", and is the last thing the giant utters before slipping out of the door without a second glance at his fallen foe.

As the door shuts behind Toji, Satoru is left to drown in his despair over the thought that even with all that he's struggled through to keep them together, with his own words, he'll be what tears them apart.

  'Love…'

Somehow or another the strangest images strike him. Satoru remembers a specific time, when her, himself, and the gang went out for karaoke. They were well known at Erikson's Bar since they would frequent there and tip well. The owner of Elska's favorite book store just so happens to be married to Erik, the bar owner. Small world right? They always reserved their own private room so they could feel less ashamed about their singing talents even though there wasn't a bad vocalist in the group, aside from Elska. Even he admits it.

"Lovvvve! Who sings that song?" he chunks this out in between hearty laughs as he is so entertained by his perfect beauty that can do so many incredible things, sooo many but singing is not one of them. The wrong ears may even suspect her tunes to be an attack of some sort.

Slightly irritated by his question and how he presents it, Elska formulates, "Lana Del Ray! Sati…don't be silly, you know th-…" 

"We should probably KEEP IT THAT WAY!" Gojo loses control of his voice's volume as he cracks himself the fuck up, belting at his own joke. Some of the others join in; Nobara and Itadori laughing the loudest, probably more so at Satoru's behavior than what led him to the joke. He's such a man child sometimes and everyone knows it.

'She was so embarrassed...', he recalls with a soft smile, 'Her face was so cute when scrunched up...', the expression worn as she beelined a punch towards him. His infinity doesn't register her at all so unless he's consciously activating it in regards to her, he can feel anything he dishes and usually he does not mind this one bit. He loves it. He remembers tensing up the closer she got in anticipation of her little fist connecting somewhere easily within reach. His smile widened in playfulness once she drew her arm forward. He'll forever remain surprised by the move she made however since she wasn't attempting to batter him at all. She brought her lips to his in a grinning kiss.

  "It looks like I'll just have to sing for you allllll of the time then.", Elska's teasing tone was quiet and meant for only him to register as she pulls away. Her arms stay locked around his neck as she leans backwards, bending her tall god towards her.

'My love...'

Her eyes hold the capability of brewing and then pouring love into him through moments like these and he never gets over the rush of warmth he feels when she enacts that mysterious power. Every time is like the first time. Every day unlike the one before. She gives him such purpose, such a reason to deal with this tiresome and grotesque world. She is his everything and he was really never going to let her go.

  'Love…what do I fucking DO?!'

  Satoru closes his wiry eyes to reel in the rest of the memory. He needs to snap out it, to focus. He would have to be ready to fight at a moments notice.

He has to save her.

He will save her.

He's just going to have to try his best to not worry about the impending doom that lurks around his heart; he can deal with that once she's safe and in his arms again.

'Love...I can't give you away...'

Elska's touch, her scent, her everything; he needs that. 'I don't have to tell her right away, let us have one more day together…maybe I can stretch this out...', he needs her.

'Fuck this. I won't.'

Or perhaps Gojo can also squeeze Toji's head until it begins to implode. Make him beg for his greasy life while he sobs; he'd give Toji a moment of relief, sanctuary. Gojo would let him believe that the groveling satisfied him before flattening his fucking skull and making his eye sockets touch.

But that wouldn't be enough.

  'My Elska…'