โLong time no see, Megumi.โ
The sound of his voice makes Megumi freeze, heart dropping as he slowly turns, eyes widening as he sees Gojo standing just a few feet away, a shy smile on his face as he runs his hand through his own hair. โGeez you got old, Iโm just kidding you look young again, not sure why that happens when you come here, but anyway, was it your time? You didnโt go too early did you? Man it feels like forever but at the same time it feels like just yesterday. It canโt have been that long already has it?โ Gojo keeps talking, true to who he always was, even as Megumi stays unable to speak, throat dry and mouth open as he stares, all he can do is stare because Gojo is right there.
So heโs dead, thatโs fine. He knew he was dying, he lived an honest life, he thinks he had a good enough life to die when he did. That doesnโt bother him, but GojoโฆGojo looks young. Had he always been that young? He barely got to grow up. Megumi outlived him by decades and he remembers being twenty eight, he remembers how young that was, just barely not a kid anymore and Gojo was that young when he died. Not like he had to grow old for his hair to go white but god did he deserve to. Megumi knew how it felt to grow old, and he got to die of old age and live a happy, safe life with his loved ones and Gojo didnโt even get to turn thirty. Gojo died violent and angry and probably scared, tossed aside like a broken toy because he was only ever useful when he was strong and he died so long ago.
โWhat, not gonna say anything? Is it death shock?โ Gojo teases. โOh no I get it you forgot all about me, pfft, you lived a long time kid, doesnโt surprise me.โ Heโs joking, Megumi can tell by his voice, and yet he feels hurt by it, he can feel Gojoโs hurt, as if heโs begging Megumi to say otherwise.
He only knew Gojo for maybe ten years. He killed his real father, threw him into the jujutsu society just like he was, a pawn thanks to his ability he didnโt ask for, and then Gojo died and everyone moved on. Six decades be spent living his life, growing old, marrying your best friend, having children, and forgetting all about some teacher he barely knew.
Why would anyone remember Satoru Gojo?
Megumi launches himself forward and crashes into Gojo. Ever his fault, Gojo is taken off guard, and falls, wrapping his arms around Megumi as his eyes widen in surprise. โHey, kid I was just joking.โ Gojo tries to laugh, but his throat is thick and tears are already stinging his eyes. Megumi still wonโt speak, he just buries his face in Gojoโs shirt and cries silently, hands shaking as he clings to him, as if heโs scared letting go will take Gojo from him again.
The last time we hugged we were on the battlefield and I never got to tell you Iโm sorry.
Gojo rubs his back softly, and hides his face in Megumiโs hair, holding him close.
There was supposed to be an exasperated sigh, annoyance and complaints over Gojo still annoying him even dead, over him being trapped with him in the afterlife when he had a real father somewhere here he could see, not just him.
But Megumi spent six decades mourning him, six decades of regret and guilt so heavy it made him sick, and finally getting to see him again means more than he could ever ask for, so he wonโt ruin the moment with arguing or complaining, not right now.
Right now heโs sixteen again, his dad is holding him, and promising he wonโt be taken from him ever again. Megumi lived a long happy life, and heโs prepared for a long happy afterlife where they donโt have to suffer or lose one another.