10 years cont.

A few days passed since my kidnapping and torture lesson. Gojo hasn't visited me since then, and it has gotten really depressing to stay in the house. Even moving scenery didn't help either. I still felt depressed and dead from the inside. Staring at my reflection in the pond I looked at, the water rippled from the breezy wind. The bottom half of my black hair danced with the wind. No matter how much I stay outside and yearn to leave, I don't have the guts to do it. I've been chained down by family expectations and mental scars that I can't even fight for myself. And if I did, will I be hurting others around me? Will it affect them? I don't know.

"What's up with the long face, princess?" Gojo's sudden appearance spooked me as I turned to look at him.

"Why are you here? You said you were gonna be out of town for—"

He pressed his finger over my lips, and he smiled an arm length away. "I've come to retrieve my princess from her castle and take her with me!"

"What?" For some reason, I totally forgot my own hopelessness when Gojo's idiotic, laidback personality override everything. "Why did you tell me ahead of time?"

"Come on! People like surprises, stop being a buzzkill!" Gojo slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me up on my feet. "Let's go and say goodbye to this house. Also, you need to pack a few—never mind those clothes." By 'those' he meant my kimonos. "I'll buy you some." I was so confused about what's happening. A lot of words were coming out of his mouth that at this point I'll let him drag me anywhere. Being with him was better than being in this house.

"Greetings, elders and parent-in-laws." Gojo kept his arm around my shoulders still. "I'm going to be taking Ena on a pre-honeymoon trip!

Pre-honeymoon? Why was he lying now?

"We shall be heading out now! Bye!" Gojo took me away before they could say anything, and the next thing I knew, we were on a train.

"Why'd you lie to them?" I ask while he was eating bento that he bought on the way here.

"You're an adult. Why do I have to tell them where you're going? You're no longer a Kita. You're a Gojo."

"Pfttt! AHAHA!" I laughed out loud, turning away from him as I slapped my knee. "I can't be a Gojo until we seal our vows!" My whole body trembled from his joke. I can't believe he considered me as a Gojo after knowing each other for a good week or two.

"Then..." We locked eye contact. "We can do it now." For a moment, it sounded so serious but I knew he's a big jokester.

Smack!

"Ouch!" Gojo winced in pain from a hit to the arm. "Do you like hitting people?" He rubbed his stinging arm.

"I'm not sure either. Ever since I met you, I have the urge to... You jest too much, sir." It's like I hit a nail to his head. He looked so taken back by calling him 'sir'.

Gojo dramatically put his hand on his chest with a big thump. "Sir?! If I recall, I'm still young." Then that hand which was on his chest quickly pointed at me. "I'm eighteen just like you!"

"Yeah, yeah..." I brushed off his attitude. "Where are we going?" All I knew was that he needed to exorcise some spirits, and I was dragged along with no particular reason—oh wait, I forgot he's able to take me because of our deal.

"Shinjuku. We're going to meet up with some people, eat, shop around the area, sleep at an Inn..." As he continued to tell me his schedule, my head began to tilt to the side. Was he actually on a mission? Or was he on vacation? He's too carefree.

"Mister, do you have a mission or not?" I wanted to push his button today since he's always doing it to me. The table has turned for now. Gojo's brow twitched as he dropped his half eaten onigiri on his plate. "Are you going to answer me or not, Mister?"

"Stop addressing me like I'm an old man." Gojo whined from my insult. "I'm still young, and yes, I have a mission but we're doing other things first. I'm going to show you what Shinjuku has to offer than where you live." His pointer finger poked my nose with a smile on his face.

"Why do you keep calling me 'princess' when I have a name as well?"

I regretted asking that question when he propped his face up with his elbow and his smile turned into a smirk. Gojo pushed up his black sunglasses to his white hair, and his beautiful blue eyes gazed at me. Just locking eyes with him for a few seconds, my lips began to twitch as I bit my tongue. My cheeks were slowly stiffening and turning red; he looked too handsome without his glasses. "Put on your sunglasses!" I broke away, turning my whole body from him. My hands covered my face while my figure became extremely warm.

"Awww! Is my princess taken back from my beauty?" Gojo cooed in my ear. His body was very close to mine as his chest leaned against my back. "You're so cute." His breath tickled my neck and ear. "Maybe when we're alone, I'll take off my sunglasses. I love your feistiness, but I love your coyness. It makes me want to pounce on you, princess."

Gahhhhh! My heart couldn't take in any more from him before I exploded into a million pieces. I couldn't feel my ears right now because they were burning from his playful words. I want to punch him so bad but I can't! I'll have to open my eyes and look at him to aim my fist to his face. I'm too weak right now...

"Oh my... Your ears have turned bright red."

All I had to do was endure this a bit longer until we reached our destination... I'm mentally crying to myself.

"Hmmm. It seems like you won't face me but that's alright. I call you 'princess' because..." Gojo paused for a few seconds to emphasize his upcoming sentence. My heart began racing in anticipation. It's odd how he calls me by my first name when I'm in danger. "I'll tell you on another day. I tease you too much. I don't want to get punched or slapped by you later." Gojo killed the mood and pulled back from me.

That's when I removed my hands from my face. "Mhmm... Good choice, Satoru."

20 minutes later, we've finally arrived at Shinjuku. When we stepped off the train, Gojo pulled me to the side. "What is it?" He took something out of his pocket. "A box?" It was a small black velvet box. "What's inside?" I didn't know where he was getting at.

"It's your engagement ring." Gojo opened the lid and out appeared a silver band. "I'm wearing mine, so you should wear yours." He flashed me his ring finger, then took my hand in his and slipped the ring on. It fits nicely around my finger. The cold band quickly adjusted to my body temperature. Gojo let go of my hand, and I extended it out to look at it. It's really simple and cute.

"Why'd you get it now? Why didn't you do it when we were out shopping on the day I got kidnapped? It would've been easier to swarm off those girls if I had a ring on." I played around with my engagement ring, twisting it around my finger.

"I did buy it on that day, but it was after you stormed out so I couldn't give it to you until now."

He made me go through so much. Let's keep toying with him. I grunted in a melancholy tone, "Hmph! I wanted to let other men know that I'm single... not engaged yet. Maybe I'll—" Just when I was about to slip the ring off to joke around, Gojo clamped his large hand over mine.

"No. We're late now, we have to go." Gojo subtly growled, sounding a bit possessive and dragged me behind him. It's funny how he's behaving like that, after all, he's the one who let girls crowd him the other day.

We walked to a ramen shop where his friends were waiting for us. There were three girls sitting at a table where Gojo led us to. "Hi everyone, this is my fianceé, Kita Ena." Gojo gestured to me and I bowed in respect.

"You're lying right?" The girl in the miko clothes said in a serious tone.

Instantly, Gojo lifted my hand up to show them my ring. "Nope! We both have matching rings. It's our engagement ring, Iori." He said with a little sass, cocking his head at her.

Was that why he bought me a ring? Just to show off that he's getting married? Most people wouldn't gloat about it since it's an arranged marriage. What the heck...?

The girl, Iori, began asking more questions. Maybe she thinks that Gojo randomly picked a girl off the streets and pretended that she's his fianceé. "Gojo, nobody knows how the last descent of the Kita clan looks like. It's a female, she's hidden from the public, and all information about her is kept a secret. Don't flaunt yourself with random girls because you think you're handsome."

That Iori girl was gusty. Her attitude was great against Gojo. My thought slipped out of my head, "Oh, I like her." I grinned at Gojo who looked betrayed that I didn't back him up.

"Are you on her side now?" He dramatically gasped, lightly pushing me away from him.

I held in my blink for a few seconds before reopening my eyes. I feel like messing around with him again. He deserved it. "Am I done playing your fianceé now? I'm trying to find other guys. Here's your ring." Gojo swiftly pulled me to his chest, locking me in place with his strong arms. My back was against his chest as I sighed from how this turned out to be.

"Can you not? I'm trying to be serious here." He whispered in my ears, sounding a tiny bit desperate for some reason.

"Really now? You're never serious!" I clapped back at him. "You joke so much!"

We started bickering with each other over trivial matters until someone broke our conversation.

"So are you affiliated with the Kita clan or not?" Iori asked, trying to get an answer from her question from before.

I answered so we can settle things down. "Unfortunately, I am. No one else would have golden eyes but the clan bloodline themselves." Jabbing Gojo to release me, I pulled up a seat at their table. "He," I pointed to Gojo who pulled a chair right next to me. "Is my unfaithful fiancé—" I shouldn't have exaggerated but I did. No regrets.

"Unfaithful?! Since when?"

I snapped my head to look at this annoying dude. "Since you made me fend off your fangirls! We can finish this conversation later." Then I looked back at the girls who had to witness this and smiled politely. "Back to what I was saying, we're engaged and I'm finally let out of the house because of him."

After exchanging names with the girls: Iori, Mei Mei, and Ieiri and ordering food, everyone began talking about their mission they were all placed in. I sat there slurping my ramen because I had no clue what they were saying, so I zoned out into my own thoughts. My head was filled with my fears ranging from home to Gojo's work. I didn't want to be a hindrance. I've killed spirits at home but never at a real location. That means I'm not as qualified as they are to be a part of this sorcery stuff. Why was I born into this clan?

"Can you fight?" Mei Mei's question brought me back to Earth.

"I really don't know because I never left my house. They brought spirits to me but don't worry, I'll stay behind the curtain."

"What? You're coming with me. It's more dangerous to leave you behind when people are out to kill you." Gojo had a point. I forgot my head has a big price.

"Okay that settles it. I will go on the first floor alone, Ieiri and Iori will go on the second floor, and you two will be on the third floor." I was so lost at what Mei Mei said. I should've listened but I didn't and that's my fault. I'll ask Gojo later. "I'm going to take my leave and see you guys tomorrow." One by one they all left until it was only me and Gojo at the table.

"So what's happening? I didn't listen."

"Princess, you need to listen if you're going to be coming with me to all of my missions." Gojo chuckled, then told me tomorrow's mission. "We're heading to a hospital." Chills ran up my spine. Hospitals are prone to have lots of spirits. "There's a grade 1 spirit we need to take care of. For now, let's enjoy our time in Shinjuku!" Gojo took me out of the ramen shop.

Around the strip mall, we visited many stores and bought a lot of snacks and modern clothes for me. "You didn't have to spend money on me. I don't think I'll be leaving the house much to even wear them." The depressing thought of going home soured my mood. I want to run away, but I'm helpless and stupid about this world so I can't. I can't drag Gojo because he won't be ready for it. I'm not too sure if I can even tell him about it. It's a secret that'll die with me.

"Then keep it for the future, princess." He smiled, wrapping his arm around my shoulder to keep me close to him. My heart was racing a tiny bit because of our closeness. "Let's go to our Inn!"

At the Inn, it was a relatively small ryokan inn. The interior of the reception hall was tight and cozy. The color palette was brown, red, and white. Mainly in the warm tone family. Decorated on the walls were small paintings and plants were at each corner of the room. "I'll lead you to your room," the worker guided us as we followed.

"Room? It's not rooms? With a 'S' at the end?"

"Of course not, silly. We're a couple after all. We have to share a room." Gojo said it in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. I'm dragging my futon on the other side of the room.

Once we arrived, the worker went back to the front desk and we entered inside. "Wow it's similar to my house." I mumbled. The interior was minimalistic and modern. It had the same color scheme as the front desk. In the middle was a short table and in front of it was a tv. It's pretty empty and spacious.

"Why don't we bathe first and then come back?" Gojo suggested and I nodded.

15 minutes later, I came rushing back inside the room I shared with Gojo. I sat next to the short table. The women's bath house was so full. I couldn't enjoy anything without feeling so insecure and shy with my body. I'd prefer not to see naked women. It's so hard to not look anywhere without seeing intimate parts on a woman's body. Scrunching the hems of my yukata, I shivered in pure innocence. Never again I'm returning to a ryokan.

"Why's your face red? Is it because I'm handsome?" Gojo bashfully said, running his hand through his dry white hair.

Damn, Gojo wasn't wearing his sunglasses at the moment so I turned away from him. "This is my first time in a ryokan. I'm not used to seeing naked people. I usually bathe by myself. Can you put on your glasses? It's weird to look at you without them."

Gojo's light footsteps made his way towards me and literally sat in front of me. "No, I'm not and you're going to look at me or else I'll pin you down. You can't cover your face either." He threatened me like it wasn't a big deal. My eyes widened from a flashback when he straddled me when I tried to hide him in my room.

"F-fine." I didn't want to recreate the scene, so I'll put my stubbornness aside. Stiffly rotating my head, his handsome face and relaxed white hair caused my face to burn up in a split second. My aching heart couldn't stand this. It hurts so much to look at him. He belonged in an art museum. Unconsciously, I slowly began moving my head downwards like a sloth because I couldn't look at him. Pretty boy was making me uncomfortable and shy because of his beauty. I couldn't resist hiding my face.

"No! Look at me!" Gojo hastily swooped in and cupped my cheeks so I could stare at him. I forced my hands to grip onto my yukata to prevent myself from hitting him. "I know my eyes make your heart go crazy. You don't have to admit it but I know it. It's okay to blush. I'll refrain myself from teasing you, princess." Up close he had long white lashes. If he never hid his eyes, girls would've pounced him first. "You know your eyes resembled the rarest gold that nobody can ever find? It's the hidden treasure that people want and search for. They sail across the oceans and walk on land just to find it. However, the most wanted treasure can never be found. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because I already have it." His words rolled off his tongue like honey. It made my body twitch in a weird way. It wasn't in disgust but an indescribable feeling that's unknown. Nonetheless his poem stuck out to me. Why did it sound so accurate with my life? I'm that hidden gold that people want. My clan hides me from the world to protect me, and now I'm Gojo's as if I'm an object.

I pulled back from him, feeling my thoughts being clouded by my suffering as I looked away. My black hair slipped off my shoulders and walled my face, preventing him from seeing my expression. Breathing felt so empty and heavy. "How do you become your own person and be free?" I'm torn apart by being an obedient, fearful girl and a curious girl who wants to explore the big land. I can't choose both or else I'll drown.

"You think for yourself and ignore what people think about you. You need to let go what's chaining you down. Why do you ask?" His voice was soft, smooth, and calming. He's totally a different person right now. I liked this Gojo instead of the jokester one.

Choosing to ignore his question, I asked him another one. "But what if you're scared to rebel because your whole life was built around by fear?" My eyes grew hot from my childhood memories. Nothing was bright; they were all dark. Because I was the last descendant, they were harsh on me. They never let me off easily. All my training was rigorous and borderline overkill. Each day I felt like I was going to die, but I had to survive because I was expected to. My unloved parents couldn't have any more children after me. My mom's ovary became infertile. I felt like I had to uphold everything because no one else could produce another child since my dad, who's a Kita, had no siblings. All their heavy burdens landed on my shoulders, the last Kita before I married off into the Gojo.

Pat pat

Before I realized it, my tears landed on the floor. "Hey! Hey! Why are you crying?" Gojo seized hold of my face to prevent me from fighting away, and he forced me to look at him. I've never seen him look so concerned and frantic over a few tears from my eyes.

"It's nothing." I shoved him away from me, and I shuffled to the futon. I let my thoughts take over and showed him a weak side of me. I'm so pathetic. "I'm heading to bed." I knew I shouldn't have pushed him away like that, but I don't know how to tell him. I can't bring myself to do it.

I'm sorry, Gojo.