Between Heaven and Earth, I Alone Am The One Squished Between Softies Chapter 9: The Zenin Clan

(Kiryu’s POV)

I looked at my phone’s screen, looking at the ssages that Utahi and I shared last night.

It read:

: Please answer my calls, Uta. I am worried about you, don’t be like this.

Uta: After all we’ve been through, Kiryu, I’m still your last choice.

: And who would my other choices be?

Uta: You know damn well who. I can’t believe I would allow myself to be swooned by your words.

: Uta, please, you know I care for you.

Uta: Just like you care for i i and Shoko? Please, stop.

: Yes, I care for all of you. When will you understand that?

Uta: I am 31 years old, Kiryu. If you want to be with , you might as well get over with it and stop playing these gas. I know the sweet words you tell Shoko every ti you see her. And i i makes sure I am aware of the way you treat her. ? You never do that to . Like I said back at the school, I am not so whore you can fuck whenever you want.

: We should talk about this in person. I’ll send soone for you and have you et at my estate, please don’t refuse. I care deeply about you, Uta, you know this. I’d do anything for you.

Uta: Look at yourself in the mirror, Kiryu. The rich playboy Head of The Gojo Clan. When will you ever take yourself seriously? I cannot believe Shoko goes along with your shenanigans.

: Uta, that’s it. We’ll speak about this in person, okay? I know this ans a lot to you, our history. I won’t do anything to disrespect you. When are you free?

Uta: .....Leave alone.

I leaned back and sighed, "Shit." I said, "Sothing must’ve struck a nerve. I treat her the way I usually do."

"Haha!" I heard an irritating voice laugh, "Trouble in paradise?"

I looked to my right, Satoru was sitting next to as we rode in the back of my luxury car as we made our way to a eting. He was sucking on an ice popsicle, an orange-flavored one. He was giving a mocking smirk.

I frowned, "You want to throw you off a cliff?" I said, "What do you know about this?"

He shrugged, "Oh, nothing much." He said, "Just that I am well aware that out of all your little girl toys, Utahi is the last one you should treat badly. She’ll leave you in the dirt, I an she’s already 30 years old, Kiryu. Mid-life crisis, rember?"

"You’re almost there, bud." I said with an annoyed tone, "And so am I, in a few years...."

"Ha!" Satoru said, "25, eh? Frankly, I’m surprised you even showed any interest in Utahi. I an, Shoko, I get. You saw her almost every day whenever we dragged you along with us and you had a think for short haired brunettes when you were a kid."

"Hm." I said crossing my arms

"i i, I an she’s pretty too." He said, "Got that nice white hair, like . I imagined you were attracted to her cause deep down-"

"Shut the fuck up." I snapped

"Hehe..." He said, "And let’s not forget Yuki, I an your type of woman; Strong."

"Your point?" I said

"Utahi is weak, man." Satoru said, "And older than you by a lot."

"Unlike you, Satoru, I appreciate the beauty of won." I said, "Yuki is also older than , by a lot. Did you forget?"

"Yea yea." He replied, "Anyways, I suppose today’s a bad day to have your problems with your girls, man."

I closed my eyes, "Tell about it." I said, "Why’re you coming with ? Don’t you have a lot to worry about? These Disaster Curses and all? Nanami-san told about the patchface curse and how Yuji handled it."

"They’ll be fine." Satoru said

"You sure?" I asked him, "You got an awful lot of faith in them."

"Ah, I can’t show any pessimism, Kiryu." He told , "Besides, if push cos to shove, we’ll handle them."

"We?" I said, "We’re speaking french all of the sudden? Who’s We?"

"Hehe." He chuckled, "You and I, buddy! We’ll handle anything that cos our way! That was our deal, rember?"

I frowned, "That pinky promise from 10 years ago?" I asked, "You got to be joking."

"Hey, Pinky Promises are sacred!!" He exclaid, "You can’t go back on them. You promised , Kiryu."

"Yea yea, I get it." I waved him off as the car slowed to a stop, "We’re here."

*******************************************************

"Ah, Naobito-san~!" Satoru said as I was served tea, "This tea is immaculate! You must give the recipe!"

"Ask the servants, Satoru." Naobito said as he crossed his arms

We were inside a room at the Zenin Clan estate, I was sitting cross-legged across from Naobito and his brother, Ogi as their servants were serving Satoru and I so tea.

"I’m surprised you’re even drinking tea, Naobito." I said tilting my head, "Were’s your sake?"

He smirked, "Hehe, I’m holding off until after this eting." He said, "I was advised not to drink in front of the Two Great Stars, ehehe."

I shrugged, "Us? Man, you can drink as much as you want." I said, "It’s your house."

"You don’t like tea?" Naobito asked as he gestured the cup in front of

"I rather not." I said shaking my head

"Refusing an offering at our own ho....." Ogi spoke up, "Is this how the Gojo Clan does things?"

Satoru was sipping from his cup, "I’m drinking it." He said joyfully

"He’s drinking it." I nodded

Ogi frowned but didn’t say a word.

Naobito clapped his hands, "Alright!" He said, "Before things get tense, Kiryu-kun. I must ask what the whole deal with Jinichi was."

I looked at him, "You tell ." I said, "You teach your people to openly insult other Clan Heads?"

"No, we do not." Ogi spoke up before Naobito said, "What Jinichi did was uncalled for. But Kiryu-dono, you are the Head of The Gojo Clan. You were more than willing to cut him down in cold blood according to the witnesses."

I looked at Satoru, "You told them this, didn’t you?"

Satoru starting coughing, "N-No!" He said as he looked away

"I would like to apologize on behalf of Jinichi, Kiryu-kun." Naobito said, "But may I ask you, from one Head to another, to not ntion his Brother."

"Ah, The Ghost of The Zenin Clan." I said while gesturing to Satoru, "The one who traumatized this fucker here."

"Hey, don’t play like that!" Satoru said

"Yes yes." Naobito said, "Please, it’s my only request."

"Fine." I said, "Apology accepted. Next ti I see Jinichi, I’ll give him a bottle of whiskey or sothing. A gesture."

"That’ll do." Naobito said, "How about throwing so bottles my way too, hehe!"

"I will." I smiled

"Brother." Ogi said

"Right." Naobito said, "Back to business. Kiryu-kun, we’re all aware of the relationship between our Clans. The Gojo and The Zenin. You know what we’ve been asking for years, right?"

I sighed, "Yes...." I said, "gumi."

"Ah, no sir~!" Satoru said, "gumi is off-limits."

"He’s the only user of Ten Shadows, an Inherited Technique that exclusively belongs to the Zenin Clan." Ogi spoke up, "It is crucial that he returns to his rightful clan. Naobito has even offered to adopt him as his Second Son, Kiryu-dono."

"gumi Fushiguro is under the Guardianship of Gojo Satoru." I said, "By extension, he’s a mber of the Gojo Clan, aning, he’s mine. And his Ten Shadows Technique, mine as well. You ought to be grateful to your Ghost, siring a user of The Ten Shadows."

"That is why we’re here." Naobito said, "To discuss a trade."

"A trade?" Satoru said, "Kiryu, you better not give gumi to them. Till he becos of age, he’s under my care."

"Please listen to our offer." Naobito said

I sighed, "Let hear it." I said crossing my arms

Ogi cleared his throat, "We, The Zenin Clan, offer my daughter, Maki."

I raised an eyebrow, "Excuse ?" I said

Naobito nodded, "Maki-chan is young and beautiful, and despite not having any cursed energy, her genes are suited for siring strong children." He said, "It is only fair that we discuss finding her a suitor."

I frowned, "What are you getting at, Naobito?" I said

I already knew what he ant.

"A Marriage, Kiryu." Satoru said, "They want to marry Maki off to you."

Ogi nodded, "That is correct."

I narrowed my eyes, "What the fuck did you say?" I said in a serious tone

"Maki doesn’t offer anything other than her Heavenly Restriction." Ogi said, "But she’s still a Zenin. Despite my honest thoughts on the girl, it’ll still be a complete Honor to have the Head of The Gojo Clan take her as his wife."

"That is right." Naobito said, "And its only because Ogi is my brother and I have no daughters to offer. All we ask in return is g-"

"Shut the fuck up." I growled as I stood up, "Is this your idea of a prank, Naobito?! Offering an underage girl to marry just so you can have The Ten Shadows?!"

"Kiryu calm down." Satoru said

I looked at him, "No!" I snapped, "You’re okay with this?!"

"Of course not!" He said, "Maki is my student! I don’t condone arranged marriages, especially for children!"

"Kiryu-dono, I suggest you calm yourself." Ogi said, "Otherwise, we’ll take this as a sign of hostility."

"Take your signs of hostility and shove it up your ass, Ogi." I growled, "I know how you feel about your daughters, you pathetic low-life piece of shit. You can’t possibly give a shit if they live or die. You just want to give away the one that has no cursed energy and have the other one grow in power in the process."

"Kiryu-kun, please calm down." He said, "The last thing I want is a fight to break out. This is a friendly eting between two Clan Heads. What will the rest think when they hear that you lost your temper?"

I looked at him, "You disappoint , Naobito." I said, "I knew you were old-school but you had leniency to adapt to the new era. You are no better...."

"And you are, Kiryu-dono?" Ogi said, "The Head of The Gojo Clan who is 25 years old and has no wife, no heirs, and nothing else to his na."

I glared at him, "I got sothing on that’ll shut you up, Ogi." I growled, "Satoru."

"Ah, shit." Satoru stood up, "You know, Ogi, Naobito. My feelings for you lot aside, I really hate doing this to you."

He began to release his cursed energy as it shook the room and began to shatter the floor.

"O-Oi, Satoru!!" Naobito said, "What are you doing?"

"Just a harmless flex, Naobito. Don’t take it personal." Satoru said, "He is still my superior, you know."

I gave them both a glare, "Know one thing, Zenin." I growled, "The next ti you insult like this, Satoru won’t be here to stop from cutting you down."

"Alright, Kiryu." Gojo said clapping his hands

Suddenly, we were out of the room and outside the estate and next to the car.

My driver looked at us with surprise, "M-My Lord! Master Satoru!" He exclaid

"Let’s get out of here~!" Satoru said

I glared at him, "What the fuck is your problem?!" I snapped, "You pulled out?! Are you fucking insane?! You know what that was! That was a direct order!!"

"Yea yea, sorry." Satoru smiled

"You know what that ans, Satoru." I jabbed my finger at his chest, "You know that right?!"

"Hehe~!" He chuckled, "Yes yes, 15 Cursed Spirit Exorcisms in your stead."

"You got that shit right." I said, "And I’ll include those Disaster Special Grade ones that are giving everyone anxiety."

"Sure sure." He said,

"I’ll kill those too."