Evolution

Getou hopelessly folds forward in the armless chair by an occupied bed, elbows pressing against his knees as he releases a trembling, culpable sigh.

'How do I forget?'

The shower turns on but his dark troubled eyes remain focused to the floor.

'I want to forget...'

Toji is about to enjoy his much needed turn to bathe but Suguru can't even pay attention to the giant's unreadable mood as he stalks towards the bathroom.

Now glaring at the floor between his feet, the Titer reluctantly replays the bonding in his mind.

Again.

----------- After Elska was saved -----------

Once her origin curse manifested and merged into Elska's body, Getou knew what needed to be done next but was losing control over staving off the instinctual urges now that she returned to the world of the living.

Elska was so weak though, despite her surging and ever-more darkened presence so everything and nothing made sense to him all the same. He vividly remembers glancing down at her with relief escaping his eyes; the tears falling to her arms as he cradled her through the forest.

"Little one…", he gratefully whispers when Elska opens her eyes and smiles, "…you gave me quite the scare back there. How are you feeling?" His question comes with additional concern however, hoping that perhaps she's simply drowsy or just needing a minute to recuperate.

He needs to fulfill the ritual but doesn't see how she'd currently be able to.

"Did you…", Elska attempts lifting her left arm to touch his face but finds that she's left without strength and is extremely fatigued.

Getou notices this and stops walking immediately.

Ducking his head down low, a heavy gust curls around them, blowing leaves about. Thunder mumbles above, the sky staining overcast from clouds that rush in to block the sun's love. Although he's honed into Elska, he doesn't even realize that his nerves are causing him to shake until she speaks his name.

"You...you saved me, didn't you, Suguru?", Elska counts her blessings but then observes his enchanting glowing eyes and understands in this moment that he's suffering from not completing the ritual.

She tries to tuck herself into his chest more, adoring his heat and wishing to provide him comfort but she really can't move much at all. Through the corners of her eyes, they stare at each other for a moment longer, a few pre-shower rain drops colliding into their shared space. Looking around them to her best ability, she begins to recall the events that lead them to this point.

What took her life.

Who she gave it to.

Sati.

Elska's eyes well up instantly as she remembers the wounds her lovers endured because she turned the silver shaman but then, somehow worse, how she turned Nanami.

When she shrieks her abhorrence, Getou's eyes corrupt but immediately soften. He knows he and the Titers tried to warn them but this was absolutely not the time to say told you so. Instead, he quickly walks to the nearest tree and sits down with her in his lap, "Shhh…it's okay…it's over now…", insisting sweetly all while his throat burns like her natural chemistry is evaporating his hydration. He manages out, "Everyone is going to be alright. There are healer Titers with them, little one.", planting a soft kiss onto her head.

'Thank God…', she thinks to herself, finding a fresh wave of air entering her lungs as soon as her brain understood. He holds her closer but as she listens to his heart, she hears how erratically its beating and begins to truly sense his disposition. Elska tunes back into his intensity and is once again at the thought that she needs to tend to him.

"Suguru…", she coos, "Lay me in the grass." His reaction is of muddle but he slowly does what she asks and then proceeds to lie down beside her.

His eyes trail along her body leaving his mind mortified. Yes, her wounds are completely healed but the evidence of her torment remains as the drying blood hides her skin. That would usually be enough to make him unnerved but the worst part about this whole scene is the fact that his body is screaming for him to invade, conquer and taste. He's disgusted with himself, turning to look away even while his fangs protrude as if his physiology now has a mind of its own.

"We need to bond my newly beloved turned…", Elska smiles genuinely, wishing this could maybe have occurred when she wasn't left in scraps of the Zenin yukata, proof of her essence blanketing most of her entirety. His eyes dart to her instantly, with hunger but she notices his actual expression is bearing the opposite desire. "Don't feel bad…" she encourages, "…please."

Her voice leads him. Suguru rolls from his side to end up on top of her, his left knee tucked between her thighs. He feels as though his heart is about to burst out of his chest and accidentally releases a low growl when she nods and gives him the okay to continue.

But he's fighting himself.

'How can I do this to her when she's in this state?' He wishes there were another way.

Elska's fingers that drape over her abdomen are able to barely cling to the golden robes slinking in her view. She asserts to him, "I want you to do this. You need to do this."

A slighted yet small sob exits Getou's throat with disdain and guilt etching his tone in transparency, contesting that pattering of the rain. Looking away he seeps, "I…I can't. You're not even strong enough to move, Elska…what kind of request is that?" He clenches his fists beside her shoulders and swallows down air as their eyes meet once again, "I've already hurt you in the past. I can't...I won't do it again.", this whole situation reminds him of the hideous things he's done.

Elska becomes riddled with a looming sensation. Getou's doing an admirable job at keeping himself in check but it's to no avail since she can truly sense his nature contorting with desperation.

'But...what if it happens again?' She begins to fear the possibility of Suguru falling into a frenzy and with everyone barely recuperating after the battle with Satoru, trepidation implores her to consider it highly probable.

'RELEASE IT.'

Elska's eyes momentarily flare open with a violet glint of realization, 'That's right, I can do that again now, can't I?' Although there is no need to ask herself this. Elska comprehends exactly what the guide refers to without explanation but this clouds over how a piece of her past has been returned.

'RELEASE IT.'

'HE IS YOURS.'

"Suguru…", she mutters shamefully, "I'm so sorry for doing this but…"

Getou dares to show signs of a smirk, not comprehending why she's apologizing in this moment, "Little o-…"

-----------Back to the Present----------

Sitting upright with tears in his eyes Getou leans against the back of the chair, face pointing towards the ceiling. The culpability he now harbors over ravishing Elska when she in was in that weakened state chills the blood in his veins, 'I truly am a monster…'

Elska released her pheromones on purpose. He's only known that other Elska to do that but he's well aware of her ongoing evolution, it all becoming undeniable after the curse entered her. He didn't stand a chance either, there was no hope of resisting its extreme potency. It was as if the wave was tailor made to demolish his will power alone; like they were produced and designed for just to combat his resistance.

To be fair though, they were.

Flashes of him becoming barbaric, rabid almost, strike his mind like a bludgeoning to the head. It was as if a switch was flipped, his reservations about the haunting situation escaping reach and reason as soon as he inhaled that gratifying scent.

Reluctantly, he recalls the incredible euphoria felt as he entered her limp body, how each time he stroked his length through her walls, said brutal barbarism would chip away. At first she was responsive, even whimpering to his impactful motions but it wasn't until his fangs into her neck that he realized she'd lost consciousness at some point.

"GOD DAMN IT.", he snarls between his gritting teeth, "WHY?!"

Elska stirs in the bed a bit which immediately signals him to lower his voice. As he studies her sleeping, he desires to reach out and hold her hand but the shame over taking her mercilessly floods his heart with darkness so he retracts the hand.

"How could I…", he silently cries, "…I didn't want that."

Toji's been standing in the doorway where the bathroom connects to the room. He doesn't have to ask Getou why he's upset, he can tap into some of the phrases lingering in the Titer's mind.

Everything is such a fucking mess right now, no one can wear happiness after the events they all lived through. Leaving Suguru, Toji's eyes train onto Choso who's curled up between Elska's legs. He can tell the being is awake but its as if he's choosing to pretend that they're napping like normal. When Toji takes a hard step forward, cuing his entrance in the least awkward way possible, he's surprised to find that Getou hardly seems to care about seeming broken and sniffles.

Getou wipes his eyes vigorously, the skin of his cheeks irritated and reddened from drying his sorrows. He feels so small, hateful and disfigured. Everything he's ever wanted finally came to be but if he'd known then what he knows now, about how it would occur, he might have chosen a different path. "I didn't want to do it that way. Why the fuck did it have to happen like that?!"

Toji heavily sighs and approaches the long-haired Titer from the side, resting his palm over Getou's tense shoulder. He doesn't know what to say to break the obstinate silence but words come to him just in time, "Thank you for what you did Getou, I will never forget it. I don't know what I would do if I lost her as well…"

Suguru's brow furrows as he's unsure of how to take Toji. He figured the giant would want to punish him for his actions that followed his heroic entrance, "How can you even say that right now…", he scoffs, "Do you know what I've done?!"

Toji's mind is still reeling over finding out that Sachiko was slain during the fight. His soul aches from the loss of her, aches for the loss his son is experiencing now as well. 'I hope Naoya was able to see him…', Toji thinks to himself after the Zenin was still irate over the entire showdown. He sent his younger cousin to cross what remains of the school grounds to check on Megumi after he himself, was scolded to go away. When Getou shifts in the chair, Toji's attention is brought back to the present. He walks around to the other side of the bed and pulls up a chair to mirror Suguru with empathy in his body language.

Getou looks up and lowers his eyes as Toji sits down and crosses one leg over a knee. His green eyes scan over Elska and Choso, but then dart back up to his own. He can tell something strange is about to be said but he hasn't the heart to usher it along any faster with a question.

"Look.", Toji begins, "I wasn't there to see what happened but I can hear your thoughts and from what I'm gathering, your bonding experience was less than pleasant." He pauses for a moment before softening his eyes to the disheveled, sunken Titer before him, "My bonding experience was hellish as well though.", Toji looks to his own hands, still upset over that night, "I hurt her too."

Choso opens his eyes upon registering those words but continues to stay snuggled up over Elska's stomach. He's instantly brought back to when he awakened as well and how he attacked her while in his frenzy. The insecurity the memory gives causes Choso to secure Elska tighter in their physical entanglement while dejectedly thinking, 'Master…'

Suguru's mouth hangs open unintentionally but he catches himself and straightens up in the seat. He thinks to ask for clarification but can easily tell how bothered Toji is by his own admittance and errors on the side of patience.

Toji clears his throat, "It was like I was present for the entire thing but I had no control over my body." Closing his hands simultaneously to tight fists he adds, "She wasn't able to move or even fight me off and I knew that. I'd somehow paralyzed her with my energy, it was instinctual and automatic. It felt like I couldn't let her get away." Toji hunches forward, shaking off the chill that creeps down his spine, "I couldn't stop though. It was like I had to subdue and take her regardless."

Suguru relaxes his anxious eyes, now understanding that Toji is trying to help him alleviate the guilt but he's so stunned that he's not even sure what to say. Never in a million years would he have expected Toji to harm her in any way, he's always so collected and protective. Getpu opens his mouth to respond but before he can, Choso speaks up.

"I hurt her too…I really didn't mean it but as I was slamming her into that wall at your compound and I just knew I needed to have her…" The hybrid's remorseful voice trails off, becoming emotional, "But I would never do that though…I care about her!"

Toji takes a deep, sympathetic breath as they all bear their regrets and powerlessness to the ritual. He strives for a way to give them all comfort but finds from his own experience that it may never come. This brings him to Gojo though. Toji knows that although they may all have their pitiful complaints over their own viciousness, he's aware that no one can feel as shitty as the silver shaman. 'He won't respond to anyone either…', the giant surmises, worried about how Satoru will ultimately handle facing his actions.

"What a fucking mess…", the giant blurts out in frustration, "Gojo was already so unstable…"

Suguru can sense Naoya nearing them through the door and makes sure that his dark, saddened eyes are at least safe from meeting the Zenin's as he enters.

Naoya looks around the room and feels how tense the atmosphere is. He leers out a, "Tch.", and narrows his amber eyes to the bed, "Cho, seriously?", only caring to be near his princess again.

The mission to console his nephew was unsuccessful but he's happy to at least tell Toji, "That Titer chick…Megumi refuses to see anyone else but he's letting her stay by his side." He sees his giant cousin look up in confusion to which Naoya raises his hands up and retorts, "Yeah I don't know how that came to be but perhaps that's exactly what he needs…", Naoya takes a step towards the bed, "A woman's care." His amber gaze falls to Suguru, it being obvious that the Titer is unwilling to make eye contact, 'Fine with me.', he monologues.

Naoya is undoubtedly grateful to Getou for bringing her back from death but he's riddled with discomfort over the fact that his greatest enemy is now one of them.

One of Elska's turned.

He knows this is something that cannot be undone; there's simply no taking it back. What he doesn't know is how this can pan out well since there's too much bad history as far as he's concerned. All he can think about when he sees the Titer is Getou ripping out her wing, the way he laughed.

While lost in thought, Naoya absentmindedly kneels beside the mattress and clasps his hands around Elska's, "My princess…", he quietly states, "My bride…"

Toji, desperate to lighten the mood of the room, swiftly jars out his right leg, kicking Naoya in the ass hard enough for the blonde's body to lift up, "Our bride." When the blonde jerks his head to scowl, Toji cannot help but falter into a small chuckle, "Boyyyy don't make me keep telling you!", he hoots, his laughter growing uncontrollably in a hysterical but much needed manner.

Soon enough, Naoya becomes infected by this sound and has to cover his mouth as the air from his lungs rushes past his lips, puffing his cheeks out as he strained to control himself, "You old fart!"

Choso snickers into an innocent giggle that sounded like it could have come from a little kid, contracting his arms that are wrapped around Elska torso while his body twists.

Getou looks at the three of them in bewilderment but also with a dash of envy. He doesn't understand how they can be laughing after everything that's taken place. He's not been made apart of the joke but the more they feed off each other's insanity, the more he finds himself deeply cackling.

At first, it's just a couple of throaty, oppressed ha ha's but he loses the battle of craze and before he knows it, Suguru's belting out unrestrictedly with tears accompanying his exhausted riant.

The four of them now in unison release all of their weariness into the air through noises as wonderful as such.

Elska hears them all but feels Choso spasming around between her legs. Curious, she quietly perches up on her elbows and with wide eyes, happily takes in her turned getting along. She basks in this sight, loving the opportunity of witnessing this rare moment for herself and is relieved that Suguru isn't being backed into a corner. Her smile quickly vanishes however, her heart sinking as she's unable to spot one in particular.

Naoya senses her eyes and looks over, "BABY!!!!", he wails, throwing his arms around her and tackling her back into the bed; even kneeing Choso in the head during his excitement.

"Owwwwwww…", the being complains, forced to sit up while she's gets smothered.

"Oh my God, baby…", Naoya hugs her sincerely, shutting his eyes tight as if to download this moment and everything he feels.

Her skin, her scent, her heartbeat, her breath, her love. He's overwhelmed with the what if's that have plagued his mind since he's been left to dwell in it but they slowly dissipate as he sinks into the beautiful reality that she's really okay.

"Na-Naoyaaa!", she squeaks, unable to breathe with his strength constricting her. He releases her immediately though, cupping her cheeks with his hand and rushing her with a passionate kiss. She's taken aback but finds nothing but comfort as his deep voice hums into her ears.

'My prince…', she thinks to him to which he pulls a few inches away, staring at her with startling, watery eyes.

"Princess!", he boisterously shares out loud but then his amber orbs glow and become starkly serious.

"Baby…don't you ever fucking do anything like that ever again."

Elska is shocked by his abrupt switch in tone but understands that her decision to trade her life for Gojo's wasn't met well. She looks down, "I didn't have a choice…", but then feels a sting strike her cheek, forcing her to palm it with even wider eyes.

Getou jumps to his feet, not having expected Naoya to slap her like that. His eyes automatically glow as they narrow to the blonde, a rancorous snarl seething out, "What are you doing!?"

Toji yanks Naoya off the bed and onto the floor, "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!", He watches Choso crawl up towards Elska to console her but is quickly back to glaring at his younger cousin, who he has by the collar.

With defiance and hurt in his eyes, Naoya menacingly stares into the floor, "She fucking…SHE FUCKING DIED, TOJI!"

The blonde begins thrashing around until he escapes his large cousin's hold, quickly getting to his feet by the foot of the frame. He orients himself to face them all but hones in on Elska and mocks, "You didn't have a choice?! FUCK THAT. YOU CHOSE TO THROW YOUR LIFE AWAY. YOU CHOSE TO THROW US AWAY." Catching on to the growing hostility exuding from Getou he scoffs and adds, "AND YOU! YOU FUCKING CREEP. YES OKAY?! I know…", Naoya's emotive outburst loses its ferocity, "…I know you saved her. But I...I was completely useless…I couldn't do a fucking thing…"

Elska looks up to her prince, materializing how selfish and pathetic she truly is with the knowledge, 'I am not the same woman I once was…', betraying her as she feels that even while becoming more whole, her turned nature is losing the merger. Her mousey voice barely holds volume but she offers, "I never meant for you to feel that way my prince..."

Toji exhales heavily, glancing around from Naoya to Suguru, to her and then Choso. He doesn't agree with Naoya lashing out but he can't ignore that the abandonment he felt when she was lying in the forest, lifeless. Against his better judgement, he adds, "Fuck...he's right doll.", while reliving the images of Sukuna tearing her wing out, how much blood fountained to the grass and splashed below them.

Choso never lets her go, unabashedly not caring for their angry antics, "They're just upset Elska, it was scary…", he defends them regardless, understanding the emotional obliteration they must have felt.

Cho, stop it. She needs to hear this.", Naoya barks heatedly, receiving obstinate eyes from the being that warn of impatience, but he doesn't care. The Zenin launches for the bed, pinning her legs and effectively pushing Getou away as he the Titer lunged for him.

Elska tries to scoot back towards the wooden headboard but is truly trapped. Her cursed pride is crushed under his weight, the fact that he would be so brazen as to openly scold her in such a manner cause her lip to insecurely quiver. 'Don't make me…', she thinks to herself while preparing to immobilize him like she did before.

"How did you think we'd handle it if you were gone because of Gojo?!", Naoya demands with authority, "HE'S ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND HE KILLED YOU, ELSKA! HOW THE FUCK DO YOU THINK I WAS GOING TO HANDLE THAT?!", the golden light travels over his body.

Feeling unsure about how enraged Naoya is, Toji finally steps in again and tries to pull back on the blonde's shoulder but yelps when his cousin's fangs pierce his hand. "WHAT THE FUCK NAOYA?!", he hollers while shaking it in the air as if to fling off the bruising pain.

Elska forces herself to remain strong in her own defensive way but is distracted by her beloved's smeared blood on her prince's angered face. But nonetheless, she intensifies her daunting presence as the agitation freely flows across his features.

Naoya asks her again, "WHAT DID YOU THINK I WOULD DO?", knowing that he's trying to convey to her that he would've done his best to kill Satoru had that been her fate.

It hits her now, why he's so upset.

Accepting theit facts, Elska loses her pensive state and apologetically pushes down Choso's arms that are now raised between her and Naoya, "My sacrifice…you're saying it would have been meaningless…", she admits.

Getou is the first to sit back down but he was the second one to fully put together Naoya's cryptic message and stares blankly into space as he contemplates. He understands too for his wrath for the silver shaman would have been the reason for the world's implosion had he been unsuccessful in her revival. He still has quite the score to settle with the fucker already so that surely would've been the last straw.

The room remains silent for prolonged seconds as everyone settles down.

Finally, Naoya quietly mutters, "Yes baby…he would have been a dead man. I'm sure everyone here feels the same way. He would not be capable of fixing something like that nor is there any amount of power or money that could mend it."

She still wonders where he could be, if he's okay. "Did you…", she hesitates to ask but the unknowing is eating away at her heart, "…Is he…okay?".

Toji's wide eyes meet Naoya's and thinks to him, "Boy, she's just worried after your tantrum, chill out. You're making shit worse…." He sighs when the blonde scoffs, it being clear that Naoya is still ruffled about how to deal with his anger towards Gojo so he tells her, "Doll, Gojo is fine. He's awake too but…", his lips tighten into a straight line, "…he's not really talking to anybody."

After Getou carried Elska away and Toji saw her fingers feigning signs of life, him and Naoya shared a breath of victory but he can't recall much after that. It would seem as thought they both passed out from their wounds and exhaustion, collapsing into the grass next to their unconscious new recruit. The last thing the giant really remembers is watching the blurry blades of grass in front of him distort until all was black.

Toji next woke up back at the dorms to another a fight but this time it was Naoya pummeling the despondent Satoru who barely put up any resistance as if Gojo felt he deserved the merciless beating. Toji shudders to the memory of the raw blood lust that coiled around Naoya during the incident and worries that his younger cousin is being pushed to his emotional limits.

It's only in his own mind that Toji confesses, 'We all are, honestly.'

"I think Gojo's really disappointed with himself, Elska. I don't think his awakening was like the rest of ours. He didn't seem to remember much of it…nor did he really even understand at first.", Choso soothes to her; remaining by her side, unsure of which direction this conversation will veer next.

"He's vastly different, that's why.", adds a more composed Suguru, "We knew his being turned would lead to ruin though I never heard of anyone seeing that outcome."

Sheepishly, Elska attempts to explain, "I knew it too. Somewhere deep in my soul I always knew he would become something else; something more than even myself." Her fingers scratch along the bed sheets, "I also knew that I wanted to do it.", raising her head to view Suguru, "Just as I wanted to turn you too."

Getou feels his expression reveal his surprise, not-so-secretly smiling for how she certainly took a liking to him after the day of their Titer attack. He metaphorically wipes his happiness away though as his guilt resurfaces. His brow creases and with dour eyes, he squeamishly states, "Little one, I'm sorry for what I did you back there…I-…"

Toji isn't quick enough to explain so Naoya becomes defensive by the insinuation and turns his amber morphing read eyes towards the Titer.

Elska snatches Naoya's arm and yanks him down into the bed. Before he has a chance to protest, she's cradling his head against her breasts, relief washing over when he gives in and softly cries into her chest. Running her hands through Naoya's hair, she looks back up to Getou, "I forced you Suguru, please know that. You needed to bond with me but weren't going to do it on your own. You're too powerful. I feared a repeat from what happened with Sati…"

She hears Naoya's muffled voice shattering and whining a hopeless baby as she puts honesty into the open air. Her lips find her prince's head to which she whispers, "It's not Suguru's fault. You know what the happens when a turned awakens…", but it doesn't seem to make her prince feel any better a he's made to hear this confirmation.

Choso relaxes for the first time since things amped up and uses this opportunity to press himself against her legs and waist. Their eyes meet for a moment and even without her thinking it to him, he knows she's appreciative for his understanding and calm stance on matters. He warmly smiles to her and massages her thigh, inadvertently turning himself on until he finds Toji's threatening expression. Choso drags his ministrations to a slow halt and silently broods, somewhat ashamed in himself.

Suguru wants to be held too. He's jealous over the fact that she took in Naoya when trying to reinforce him. He does his best to hide his disappointment but isn't sure its working and can only be glad she's too preoccupied to notice.

'Still though…I'm her turned now too. I want this kind of intimacy with her!', he shouts in his mind. He's positive that he only said that in his head but he questions this fact as they all turn to face him at once. "Uh…umm…", he stammers, apprehensive and confused.

Naoya childishly growls but secures Elska further as if to demonstrate that Suguru wasn't going to get his way. He hears her giggling, how the air fills her lungs but also wedges his left leg up and over Elska, between her and Choso to block the Titer.

"Naoyaaa!", the being pouts.

"Jesus…", Toji playfully teases as he tilts his head and raises a brow towards Getou, "Yeah bud, we all heard that."

----------------------------

Gojo is still trying to recall all that of what he's accused of doing. He doesn't remember any of it, nothing until the point where he was drinking from Elska and noticed the familiar ring on his hand. He knows this means that the jeweler was able to make them fast and that Naoya picked up all the loose ends in his absence.

'Is she wearing hers?'

"My love…", he utters to no one as he lies there, balled up in to fetal position. He tosses and turns intermittently as if doing so would shield him from small realizations that suffocate.

'Nanamin? I did that to Nanamin?', he takes a deep breath, stuck in a haze of disillusion. He isn't sure what became of Kento, he's only been told that he injured him severely.

"Nanamin, I'm so sorry."

This brings his train of thought to another. Naoya's words blare in his mind.

"YOU KILLED HER GOJO, YOU FUCKING KILLED HERRRR!"

"NO!" He sharply cries to the empty room, "I… I wouldn't, right? Not her…I…I wouldn't...not Elska", but he gathers that his favorite Zenin wouldn't merely make this up, "She's my love…"

Sukuna's blood has become diluted in his system but to Gojo it feels like its effects were still running rapid within since he has no interest in moving or facing the anyone. His sunken, stormy eyes dart down to that same ring, hating that he's sullied its symbology.

"Will she forgive me this time? Can she forgive me anymore than she already has?"

Gojo doesn't see how that's possible.

Not after what he did to her, to everyone.

"My love…"

His chest tightens as he pictures the briefly described battle. Fictitious yet eerily true simulations sprout in his mind; him wiping out everyone one by one. He's always been the strongest, the fiercest...

The worst.

'Do I have the right to call her my love?', he wonders starkly, wishing he'd be less honest with himself for the sake of sanity.

"I don't, do I?"

His depression comes in waves, creeping higher, threatening to drown him like a tsunami rolling in; his body trapped beneath the sand.

"Getou…he saved her?", his stomach turns to the possibility of that horrendous Titer being mistaken for her hero, "But how?" He's missing so much information, not understanding how it all even makes sense.

He reminds himself of Naoya's words from weeks prior, "The Titers are friends with time itself.", causing Satoru's teeth to grind.

"Fuck."

Gojo has made many blunders in his life but being as no one could ever challenge him physically, he tended to care less about the consequences. This situation however, burns his every nerve as there's no way to pretend that the results won't eat him alive. He can't imagine life without Elska. He refuses to, actually.

"There is no such life without her…"

Satoru rolls over again wondering, 'What do I do?', the ghastly thought the she would want nothing to do with him after his demonic actions continuing to wear him down.

"Love…please don't go…"

For some reason his own depression reminds him of another's.

"Sachiko…"

There's no hiding that Gojo truly loathed Sachiko because of her involvement with Shoko's kidnapping but also because of the way she viciously attacked Elska at the compound. He'd often fantasize about killing the woman but ultimately decided to leave it alone because of Toji's feelings.

He didn't want to hurt his friend.

To find out that he supposedly blew the woman into two pieces and in front of Megumi no less, he feels redemption will reject him now too.

"Megs…"

"Fuck…"

Choso told him through the door earlier, "Satoru Gojo, I know you didn't mean to do any of that for what it's worth. I've voiced my doubts in the past but I see that you do love Elska…I know you do."

Gojo wasn't eager to respond because he didn't know how to. Instead, he listened to Choso sliding his back down the door, now sitting against it on the other side.

"She's resting right now but I know she'll want to see you. You can feel it right? How deeply this bond runs? It's a mutual bond Satoru, you're not alone."

Satoru refrains from speaking but this time it's because he's so touched by the being's certainty. Huddled in the darkness all by himself, Gojo clings to the possibility that perhaps Choso has something really enlightening to say. Maybe the incoming words will provide some kind of insight that will pull him out of this self-destructive mood that only seems to inch him closer to audacious suicide. Maybe, just maybe Choso has knowledge that can act as a hand reaching down into the depths of hell to pull Satoru out regardless of the demons grasping his ankles.

"We were all scared Satoru. Your awakening...it was really bad. I promise though, give Naoya some time. He was really upset about having to fight you because he really likes you too! I think his anger comes from being in that impossible situation. He cares about you a lot, he's a really good friend like that!"

Being reminded of the Zenin's hateful eyes causes the silver shaman to pull the sheets over his head, wanting to hold claim to the being's kind words but thought to himself instead, 'Oh Choso, you mean well but sometimes you're too fucking dense…'

The depths of which he restlessly navigates through his anxieties becomes far too great a task but suddenly, Gojo makes a weird realization.

'I'm…not angry with Choso anymore…', he thinks, 'Since when?'

Its so sudden and strange but Gojo distinctly remembers plotting the hybrid's demise after getting too close to his love but despite that he actually feels like he cares more about the being now, Naoya and Toji too.

"Evolution."

There's a soft tap on his door but its so dainty. Thinking its Elska, he loses his breathe but electrifyingly calls out, "Love?!", unable to hide the anticipation in his voice.

The door knob slowly turns cuing him to sit upright on his knees in the bed, gleaming to the possibility that his love would actually appear.

"I wanted to check up on you and make sure you were alright.", Shoko calmly iterates while walking in the dark room. She raises a hand to turn on the light but jumps when Gojo shouts, "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH IT.", so she stops with a dramatic sigh.

Gojo is now worse off than before; feeling irrational, stupid even, for thinking Elska would come see him alone.

'She's probably afraid of me now…', cursing his thoughts.

"Gojo? You gonna say something or-"

Incinerated by his own mind, Satoru lies, "I'm fucking peachy…"

-----------------------

Genghis and Sain have rounded up the Titers and are recuperating in the cafeteria hall. At least that wasn't destroyed.

"You men have done a fabulous job today. There's not a single one of you that I don't have admiration for…", The faux head's words are becoming lighter, lovelier even, with each sip of sake.

Sain himself is the only one out of the group that doesn't rowdily cheer to the praise. 'Where the hell did Baidal go?', he wonders suspiciously as last he knew, the young Titer came back here with Amnessia to check on Master Suguru while he underwent the DNA synthesis. Perplexed by his own unwavering anxieties, Sain downs his cup and slams it back onto the table's surface, not meaning to draw attention to himself.

Genghis haughtily leans back in his chair. He can gauge what's on the grey-eyed hunter's mind but isn't willing to share the truth. Temujin himself isn't proud of draining the lad but he was simply left without a choice because of his own grave miscalculations.

'Suguru will likely become worried over the boy's absence as well soon enough…', he sighs internally.

Sometimes Temujin wonders if he will be able to keep this spider's web intact long enough for the King to arrive. Each silk thread tying everyone together must resonate harmonically otherwise the chaos will cause it all to unravel.

'I've come so far.'

He hears, "Where is Baidal?"

There are nine unopened ceramic bottles scattered along the table top and Genghis looks at each one, coming up with a plan of escape. He's fully cognizant of Sain's distrust in him and knows this something he can't afford to fuck up any further.

Soiciopathecally, Genghis answers, "Oh, the young one? He left this morning. Said he had something to take care of but that he wouldn't be long. I think he may have grown tired of being a guard dog, probably wanted an excuse to leave."

Sain thinks about those words and wonders if it was so simple but, 'Baidal loves Master Suguru and he's very devoted. Would he just leave from being bored?'

Genghis stands and walks over, collecting a few of the sake bottles while his clansman blow off some steam, sharing, "I think to bring Master Suguru and his new friends some. They'll likely benefit from down time.", taking his leave with purpose.

Using his clan's traveling technique, Genghis shuts his eyes and opens them once he appears in front of the large, old weathered building that now houses Elska and her turned. He feels the presences of Elska, Naoya, Suguru, Toji and Choso, beside himself with the veracious happiness he experiences for his pupil.

"Are you all actually getting along?", he mumbles in in questionable belief. Slightly buzzed, Genghis stands there, holding all of the ceramic goodies that were originally brought from the compound but eavesdrops on the conversation while raising his knuckles to lightly tap the wood.

Toji walks towards the door, predicting who it is as he pushes down the handle.

Suguru's topic of humiliation switches gears when the excitement of sake enters their space. Relieved but weary over being busted by his own thoughts and not even understanding how they heard, he takes a few cautious steps away from her and Naoya in the bed and directs himself to his mentor, "Master Genghis, thank you for bringing us some!"

Toji is already swigging his bottle down, a raspy Haahhhh serenading opaquely. "Doll.", he turns to her and grins, "You like sake right? Try this stuff.", and walks it over to the bed.

Elska reaches out her hand which is being followed by Choso's eyes, accepting the warm bottle with indebtedness, "I do!", she cheerfully informs. After taking a few shots worth, she lowers it for Naoya.

Naoya sits up and accepts it but remnants of his prior bad mood still linger in his presence. He's mad at himself for slapping her but he knows Elska well enough by now to figure that would've been the most effective way to snap her out of her delusional thinking. She's become incredibly stubborn. He loves her though, undoubtedly.

'Perhaps that's why it hurt so much…', he morosely considers while tilting the bottle back. The way she still has her arms linked at the wrists around his shoulders shines through his angered façade though and when their eyes meet, he can't help but plant an apologetic kiss onto the tip of her nose.

Genghis smiles to everyone but takes a moment to reveal his hatred when his eyes befall Choso, 'He's going to be a big problem still…It's a shame Satoru Gojo didn't end him.'

The hybrid unnervingly looks back at him and to Genghis's, shock, he receives the same disgusted vibes as if the being is a mirror.

'Impudent little shit stain.'

Putting his personal feelings aside, Temujin returns the warm smile to his face and addresses the room, "I'm going to leave these here for you so please, drink up." Toji's response was incredibly excited, and with Genghis having grown somewhat fond of the giant, he points to the one in his hand and says, "You can have that one for yourself!"

Suguru chuckles to the gesture, being glad that he can no longer sense the malice in his mentor in regards to Fushiguro. This gives him hope that maybe one day he won't have to worry about Choso's safety as well. He turns to look for Elska in the bed again, merely wanting to lay eyes on her but his heart jolts when he finds her unsteadily walking up next to him. "Oh…li-little one!", he notices that she still appears weak which causes him concern but he's left speechless as he watches her reach out for him.

Elska didn't realize nor even think about the action because it feels so natural. She surprised herself by the autonomous way her arm curved around Suguru's, wanting to touch him; her new turned. It feels so right.

Toji notices this and quickly glances at Naoya in preparation for a blow up but he's luckily talking to Choso while they take turns sipping the bottle. 'Doll…', he thinks to her.

Elska heard him and is already acknowledging her beloved. He slowly crosses the room, visually honed into her, her mind preoccupied with his predatorial waltz. He looks at her like she's a feast he's dying to eat yet its her mouth that salivates to the attractive energy he's putting off. She twists her body towards Toji and starts releasing Getou's arm but the Titer firmly overlaps her hand with his own as if to say don't go yet.

Genghis stops mid-sentence with his explanations over management that will have to be reevaluated after the war with the King when Toji closes in on her. With sheer wonderment and wandering eyes, he observes the seductive way in which the giant backs her into Suguru.

'Little one…you will have to adjust to many things I see…', a small smirk forming on Temujin's face, 'Will you be able to be selfless?'

Suguru isn't sure what's going on or if he should move away. He doesn't sense anything negative stemming from Toji but feeling both his and her intensity sky rocket, he's pretty sure this was too intimate a moment for him to be apart of. It brings him sadness actually since he yearns for Elska to melt to his subtleties too. Before he knows it though, she's practically sandwiched between them with the virus of lust engraving itself on his thoughts as he studies how small she is compared to them.

Naoya catches how quiet things became and turns to view why.

All he can manage is a threatening growl as he sees what Toji is insinuating by gesticulation and Naoya is not having it. Stomping over to them, he bears his fangs at Getou and wrenches a grip on the Titers arm that is draping over her hip.

"That's enough boy.", Toji grimaces while stepping back and elucidating, "You're going to have to warm up to him. He saved her. He's one of us now."

Naoya is clearly pissed off by that and deciphers that Toji must have been testing him but there's no room in his heart for Suguru.

"Over my dead body.", the blonde snaps back, still wedging his arm between Elska and Getou. His own words upset him though as he forced himself to remember hers.

"Alright! Well, I will let you all get settled in, it was a rough day!", Genghis swiftly interjects to calm the brewing storm. He looks at Elska mischievously, "Master Suguru is a grown man but he alienates himself easily. Please, continue to care for him!", and winks before hastily walking out of the room before any wrath could be received.

Elska can't help but giggle; that Titer has amused her since the day of their attack.

'He's a strange one alright…', leading her to wonder why his wavelengths are so different from all of the Titer clansmen though; ultimately discerning he's certainly not one to underestimate. This particular interaction though was innocent, even if he was trying to stir the pot in the end.

"Elska?", Choso sweetly inquires, grinning when she turns towards him, "Can I hold you too?"

"Cho, God damn it!", Naoya snarls, "I let you join us one time and now look at you, too damn comfortable!"

"Come heeeere…", Elska opens her arms and laughs while bringing her eyes to Naoya, half enjoying his territorial ways, "Don't let him pick on you my hybrid, of course you can." Her smile widens when she sees the validation in Choso's glowing eyes over his special name.

Naoya angrily wheezes but then snatches the bottle from Toji's hand and downs a good amount.

"Don't be a cunt!", Fushiguro protests immediately, "You're always taking my shit!"

Choso leans into her ear and whispers, "Master...I really, really want to taste you.", and becomes enthralled when she lets out the tiniest gasp. He feels her fingers lacing into his hair, the sensation breeding pleasurable chills.

Elska stands to her toes to whisper back, "My hybrid, what's stopping you?"

Suguru wide eyes the pair when she bursts into a cascading moan; the sight of her being fed on sending blood to his groin.

'Shit…why does that make me feel so…aroused?'

Choso spills some of her essence; it trickling down from her neck to her shoulder blade, some soaking into the strap of her blue slip. Getou's eyes begin glowing too, his body inching him closer to them until he's close enough to bend down and lick the evidence away.

"Fuck, that's good…", he breathlessly whimpers, amazed by his affinity to her rich seasoning.

Toji squeezes the bottle in his hand, perplexed by his entertainment from viewing this, even with Getou. "Mmmm…", a guttural hum escapes him. Choso has become handsy but it really doesn't bother him at all either, oddly enough. The giant watches the being grip her waist; one hand travels to her breast while the arm around her slides down along her rear. Her saccharine moans egg them all on, instigating a calamitous dance that Toji thinks he's willing to attempt.

Naoya narrows his eyes. Suguru has since begun brushing up and down her arms, obviously enticed by her flavor. He goes to take a step forward but gets clotheslined by his cousin's outstretched arm.

"You can't seriously be okay with this!?", Naoya impudently queries Toji, not understanding why he's just letting this unfurl.

"Just wait…", Toji assures, "Trust me."

Elska tilts her head back with parted lips, trapped between the two of them and feeling amazing. Choso is as passionate as ever, truly enjoying his feeding as he shamelessly whimpers between gulps. Suguru's delicate fingertips are beginning to apply pressure, his hands sensually roaming her more and more. She grabs Getou's hardening length behind her, having felt it's mass against her back, and becomes wet when he groans with wanting disbelief.

When she opens her eyes though, she spots Toji and Naoya off to the side and thinks to them, 'Would you prefer to make them watch instead?', biting her lip alluringly. Naoya's amber eyes light up, then hue over to a bright red. She hears his inviting voice, "Yes baby…I would"

The Zenin strolls up to her with a shit-eating grin, having to push his still feeding friend away, demanding, "Leave some blood for her!" Elska still seems fragile but Naoya's satisfied by the being's submissiveness as he closes her wound.

Turning back to her, "Baby…", he deeply chuckles but looks up at Getou while proceeding with, "Why are you being so naughty right now? You know what I do to naughty princesses..."

Suguru steps away. He was so caught up in the wave of lust that he nearly forgot about his self-loathing in relation to their bonding. It doesn't help that he absolutely hates the way Naoya uses their love to verbally stab him, hates that the blonde and her share such a deep and complicated love for each other.

Choso walks over and stands beside him, huffing into a superficial pout but shares, "I think I know what they're doing but I promise, even watching is really nice!"

Suguru squints his eyes and swivels his head over, "What the fuck?!", astounded by the being's genuine smile. He then looks back up just in time to see Naoya lift her, Elska's legs doing their best to wrap around his waist as Toji situates himself behind, guiding her body into alignment to them both.

Getou can tell by the way their handling her that they're aware of her current weakness but this only aggravates him more. The Titer simply cannot stomach the developing scene.

He wants to be with her.

Intensifying his presence, Suguru seethes, "I'm not fucking watching this shi-…"- but then the bedroom door flies open at full speed, slamming and denting into the plaster wall.

Shoko barrels through it out of breath and horrified before anxiously screaming, "You guys! Satoru fucking FLED! HE'S GONE!"