Jujutsu Kaisen Week - Day 6 - Familial relationships
For the @jujutsukaisenweek 2020!
*Mitsuo is not an OC thats just the name I gave to Yuji's grandpa.
Mitsuo fell in love three times throughout his life. The first was to his now late wife, the second to his beautiful but headstrong daughter. And the third one, and somehow Mitsuo knew that this would be the last, was to the small, wrinkly baby that was his grandson. The baby was using his whole hand to grip Mitsuo's index finger in a vice grip. His heart also felt like it was being squeezed.
“So you're Yuji, huh” Mitsuo smiled. He reached into the bassinet and gently pinched one of Yuji's fat cheeks. Yuji scrunched up his face in discontent, making him look like a prune. “You're kind of ugly, aren't you?”
Or, you can read it in AO3
3 months old
Yuji was a sticky baby, if he wasn't being held he fussed, and if someone wasn't in the immediate line of his sight he cried and it wasn't a small cry here, or a small whimper there, it was fat ugly tears and wailing that felt like it was going to take the house down.
And so Mitsuo got used to always having Yuji sticking to him like a tick, usually carrying him on his back, attached safely by an array of wraps. This child would rain ruin on his back, that Mitsuo knew.
This time though, Mitsuo was simply holding against his chest as he rested on the couch. Yuji had fallen asleep a while back and so Mitsuo was simply enjoying the calm.
“You know Yuji” Mitsuo started, his voice soft as he talked to the baby's head, where he still had that soft spot that all babies had. “Us Itadori's are kind of rotten people you know, most of them at least”
“Not you thought, I knew you were breed differently since I first saw you” Mitsuo didn't know why he was whispering, it wasn't like the was someone else on the house, and the baby being a baby wouldnt understand was he was saying, but still this moment felt private and Mitsuo wanted to maintain it that way.
“You were made sweet Yuji '' Mitsuo gave a soft kiss to Yuji's head, inhaling that relaxing scent that babies seem to have. “ And i'll make sure you grow up sweet”
8 months old
Yuji was an excitable baby, always babbling, waving his arms and generally making sure that everyone in the room, even if those were mostly Mitsuo and sometimes his father, the few times that the man wasn't working, knew that Yuji Itadori was there, was awake and wanted attention.
And his new favorite way of expending energy was to make sure that Mitsuo lost any hair he still had left. Yuji had learned how to crawl, he had already gone through the whole shebang, he rolled from his back to his front like a godman piece of wood down a hill and gotten on his hands and knees with an adorable look of concentration for a baby. And really it had started really cute, it was endearing seeing Yuji doing his best to maintain his equilibrium as he moved forward.
But then Yuji got the hang of it, and really no baby should be able to crawl that fast. Mitsuo didn't know what he was going to do when Yuji actually learned how to walk, maybe he was going to have to get those harnesses that were appearing on TV.
And said baby was currently doing a one man race, moving from the beginning of the hall to the end and then returning at a speed Mitsuo was sure no baby should attain on strength alone.
For now though, Mitsuo simply observed from his place in the kitchen. He knew that when Yuji finally got tired he'd be really hungry. Future problems for future times.
1 year old
“Grandpa, cmon Yuji I know you can do it” Mitsuo was sitting in front of Yuji trying with what felt futility to make Yuji say his first word. “Graaannpaaaa”
Yuji was not a quiet child, if anything all the contrary. But for all the noises he loved making, word seems to be completely out of his repertory. It had been a constant effort to make Yuji say a word, and one that so far hadn't bore any fruits.
At this point Yuji was starting to get fussy and unhappy with Mitsuo's insistence. With a huff Mitsuo decided to stop for now, before Yuji broke into the waterworks. When those came it wasn't a happy time for anyone in the house.
Maybe he should just let Yuji develop at his own pace. After all, in all ambits physical Yuji was developing at a faster pace than he should.
With a huff Mitsuo patted Yuji's head and accepted defeat. “You do it when you feel like it”.
Yuji, who probably didn't understand anything that had happened simply gave a big, gummy smile for the exception of a few teeth and exclaimed “Grapa!”
Mitsuo stared in shock. Had the brat been waiting for Mitsuo to give up to give him what he wanted? Unlikely, Mitsuo reproched himself; he probably just needed some positive reinforcement or something.
“Grapa!” Yuji repeated again, unhappy that in Mitsuo's shock he had stopped paying him attention. The word was more of a bastardized version of the word grape than of grandpa but still, it was the thought that counted.
With quick hands Mitsuo grabbed Yuji and got up, spinning him in the air.
With a blinding smile and a giggling voice Yuji continued his exclamation of 'Grapa'.
2 years and 5 months old
Mitsuo never got along particularly well with Yuji's father, he didn't get along well with almost everyone, really. So when he was gone, Mitsuo didn't feel any particular kind of way. He still went to the funeral of course, everyone deserves to be surrounded by people at the end after all.
Yuji was being carried in his arms, his weight a small comfortable warmth. In his small hands was an urn, adorned with soft patterns. He didn't seem to understand what they were doing. But still kept quiet, his usual talking and excited noises non existent, he probably sensed the atmosphere. Yuji was smart like that.
Children started to form explicit memories at two year old, or at least that was what Mitsuo had read. So Yuji may remember things about his father, although Mitsuo would prefer if he didn't remember this moment. It was way to somber for a child.
Mitsuo hitched Yuji higher and decided to get him an ice cream when they got home. The brat was getting heavier and heavier with each day.
4 years old
The day was beautiful, the sky was blue and it was pleasantly warm. The only thing ruining this beautiful day were the screaming and crying children that surrounded Mitsuo.
Yuji had been one of them, he had been happy when they left the house, excited to be outside. But when it became clear that he was to stay at their destination, grandpa not included, the waterworks started.
But Mitsuo was strict, this was for Yuji's good, and he would not be subdued by yuji's teary eyes, not this time. It was starting to become time for Mitsuo to get more strict with the kid and this was the first step.
Also the kid needed to interact with kids his age, make friends and be a general menace to someone else.
At the end a smiling teacher had to take Yuji by the hand and gently guide him to his class.
If Mitsuo felt a lump in his throat and moisture in his eyes as Yuji disappeared from his view, that was between himself and no one else.
14 years old
After school clubs are important, Mitsuo thought, it was a moment for children to interact with each other outside of the classroom, a moment to forge friendships. He was happy that Yuji was part of one.
It doesn't last long though. Because one day Mitsuo is doing work around the house and then comes the feeling of faintness and the next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital.
As Mitsuo opened his eyes it was to Yuji's concerned face, his eyes were red and his nose seemed runny. Yuji hadn't cried since he was little and Mitsuo wasn't interested in seeing it again.
“What's that face for, brat?” Mitsuo's voice was raspier than he would have liked.
“I-I just. I found you on the floor and you weren't responding!” Yujis voice cracks in various places, clearly shaken by what he found when he got home.
“Hah, as if I'd die so early. There's still a lot of things I need to teach you brat!”
They discharge him from the hospital a day later, with instruction to take it easy and a bunch of pills. Yuji refuses to go back to the club and every day he comes home straight from school no matter what Mitsuo tells him.
Two weeks later Mitsuo passes out again and this time they can't give him a clear date of when he can get out of the hospital.
15 years old
The walls are bland, the whole room is bland really. The only splash of color are the damn flowers that Yuji insists on bringing every time he comes. He is, of course, the only visit Mitsuo receives. What a shining man* that he is.
Mitsuo replays the dream he had, although it had been more of a collage of different memories rather than a dream. He wondered if it was some sort of clue or reminder. He had once heard that when you die you replay your whole life. But obviously Mitsuo was still alive.
Every day Mitsuo feels weaker and weaker, no matter how much he rests or what medicine they give him. He knows he doesn't have much time left. And If Yuji's constant visits and calls mean something, he probably knows it too.
What a troublesome brat he got.
The memories replay in Mitsuo's head. Yuji is still so young, there's still so much to teach him.
There are a lot of things that Mitsuo regrets, (the fact that his funeral is going to be a lonely one is one of them) but the one that is most prevalent in his mind at the moment is that there is no one to leave Yuji to. Mitsuo is leaving him alone.
“Hey Grandpa. How are you? Hope it's nice wherever you are”
Well, if there's a silver lining to all this, is that with him hospitalized there's no excuse for Yuji to miss his club activities. At least Mitsuo can make sure he has friends to rely on.
“My teachers are really cool too. I bet you'd like Nanamin, he kind of remind me of you”
“Me? I'm doing fine don’t worry too much. I made some nice friends, and have some reliable senpais.”
“I just came for a little visit. I have a mission around here and decided to come visit. I should get back soon though. Don't want to leave Kugisaki and Fushiguro hanging.”
“Well see you later, next time I’ll tell you all about my friends and teachers. They really are great people!”
And so Yuji leaves the grave behind with that promise.
