dominion

2010

Teach, she does.

Time is a limitless construct, and Satoru-san maximizes it. She delegates.

Megumi has tutors.

Satoru-san is an important person, a very, very important person with many important but boring responsibilities and tasks, so Megumi is given the best education when Satoru-san is absent and cannot nurture her precious little protege.

However, her absence does not mean she isn't hands-on. It's nothing for Satoru-san to call in the midst of battle or halfway across the world to query Megumi about her day, what she learned, and what she found interesting, and answer the questions Megumi might have been too hesitant to ask her teachers.

Loud shrieking becomes muffled. "Yuck!" She cavils in indignation, "Couldn't you die gracefully!?"

"Satoru-san?" Megumi questions uncertainty.

"Yes, my precious little student!" Megumi has become accustomed to her mentor's dramatics and frivolous pronouncements. "Sorry about the interruption; please repeat what you said."

"The Tenets of Tengen are based on Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism," Megumi carefully pronounces each word, "but I pointed out poly-poly-the-ism in other cultures that practice jujutsu. Matoba-sensei said they were heretics and inferior, but Okimoto-sensei says the Tenets of Tengen were created to regulate the practice of jujutsu and that other practitioners may follow a doc-doctrine that con-contradicts our own but is by no means wrong, just different."

"That sounds about right. Unfortunately, it appears that  Matoba Eitaro is a boot licker," Satoru-san says contemptuously.

"What?"  

"That's called propaganda, Megumi."

"What's propaganda?" She asks slowly.

"Biased and misleading information spread to influence public opinion. It promotes an agenda or cause to persuade people's beliefs and actions. Are you following?"

"Yes, but let me write this down," Megumi always tries to have pen and paper available for these discussions.

"Jujutsu society reflects our country's society, albeit archaic. We are a monolithic and, therefore, prone to nationalism. Monolithic in this context means a shared identity that is cultural and historical; this results in a conformist worldview that impacts lifestyle choices, media, education, and personal freedoms. Nationalism is the allegiance and devotion to a nation, and its ideality often outweighs the individual or group interest." There's an explosion and the cries of a curse in its death throes, but Megumi is focused on Satoru-san's explanation. "Now, this is one perspective, and what do I say about perspective?"

"Look at it from another point of view," Megumi parrots.

"Yes! Very good!" Megumi flushes and can't quite contain her smile. She likes to be praised, to be recognized. "Matoba believes that our way is the only way. He's not wrong; under our government and culture, this is true, and you will hear this perspective from people who operate within our government and society. However, your trajectory is different; you will mingle with people whose administrations are liaisons with ours. Meaning your perspective will be broadened. Less than one percent of the world's population is gifted with malign energy, so it's important to build and maintain allies. Do you understand?"

She thinks she does. She summarizes what Satoru-san said and underlined any words she doesn't understand, and she will find a dictionary to look them up for context.

"Yes," Megumi answers. 

"Do you have any questions?"

Megumi shakes her head, "No, not about this."

"Remember, never take anything at face value. Question it, even what I tell you, ask different perspectives, and form your own opinion. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Great! Now tell me about school. Is that little beta girl hogging the cafeteria window seat?"

---

She's jealous.

She shouldn't be, but she is.

She should be happy Tsumiki has taken an interest, that she wants to step away from ballet and swim and learn self-defense. But does it have to be with Satoru-san? Does she have to insist their benefactor teach her?

Satoru-san's time is precious, and when she is available, she usually spends it teaching Megumi. Megumi learns from a tutor, Tsumiki can do the same.

Tsumiki clumsily works through a set of katas, but none of the grace she displays from ballet is present. Megumi thinks she looks stupid, but Satoru-san praises her after she executes them. Tsumiki shoots her a smug glance every time, Megumi scowls but revels in her visible struggle as Satoru-san directs her to begin again. Tsumiki may receive positive reinforcement, but Satoru-san is a taskmaster, and with a student who seeks perfection, she will likely want the same dedication from a newer student.

Still, it isn't fair.

"Don't slouch," Himatsu-san admonishes. 

Megumi pouts and sits up.

"Mind your facial expression," Himatsu-san chides again.

Megumi tries in vain to mimic a neutral expression. 

"Jealousy is unbecoming," Himatsu-san says sternly, "you can find other ways to occupy your time."

Megumi scowls; their nanny is unmoved. 

"Fine," Megumi concedes, "I will."

Well, if Tsumiki wants to monopolize Satoru-san's time, Megumi will show her that it is a terrible, bad, no-good idea.

There's nothing like a jujutsu academia.

"Sator-san?"

"Yes, Megu-chan?"

"How does Six Eyes work?"

Satoru-san smirks and shakes her head, but answers her nonetheless, "The scientific or spiritual explanation?"

Caught in her obvious ploy but determined to make a point, Megumi says, "Both."

"Six Eyes is a rare genetic mutation that occurs in the Gojo clan. It enables the wielder to master Limitless, the Gojo inheritable technique. With Six Eyes, the user can easily master Blue and Red, and achieve the legendary Hallow Purple, White and Gray. Once more from the top, Tsumiki, make your movements more fluid," Satoru-san stops her sister and corrects her stance. "Six Eyes allows the user to see cursed energy on the sub-atomic level, easily read a person's cursed technique, and provide prescience in certain circumstances." She levels those all-seeing, all-knowing eyes on Megumi, "I see the universal truth and the forces of nature; I see people as parts and identify them by their cursed energy."

"So you don't know what I look like?" Strangely, that makes her sad. Is she not worthy to be seen as herself?

"No, Megumi, I see you as you are," She practically coos, and that feeling of euphoria fills her. 

"What about the spiritual one?" Tsumiki pipes up.

Megumi wants to scoff, as if she understood the scientific one. 

"This will be confusing, Tsumiki-chan. Let me know what you don't understand. Six Eyes is the manifestation of divinity. They are god eyes. I am the physical vessel, but my soul belongs to or is shared," Satoru-san puts up air quotes and rolls her eyes, "with a celestial being."

"It's like the Tenth Shadow, except tamed," Megumi surmises.

Satoru-san cocks her head, shedding her human guise. Alien and refined as she regards Megumi. "That is a unique comparison and probably true in some respects. Considering how Ten Shadows and Six Eyes and Limitless came to be, they are more similar than we expect."

"How were they created?" Megumi thought they were a matter of genetics, it was the luck of the draw. She is correct, but she is also wrong.

"Forbidden jujutsu," Satoru-san chirps.

Himatsu-san inhales sharply, "Gojo-dono, this isn't something Megumi-chan should hear."

Satoru-san waves her away, a pesky gnat buzzing near her ear. 

"Megumi-chan is an omega-"

"I decide what Megumi learns; do not hold her to your standards." Satoru-san does not raise her voice, but her authority is crisp and clear. She commands respect with her very presence, and her words demand acquiescence.

But it's the look on her face. Megumi has seen it but has never grown used to it. The detachment that renders Satoru-san's face into inhuman eeriness.

Megumi shudders, hackles raised, goosflesh prickling her skin, and meets Tsumiki's wide eyes. She realizes that Tsumiki has never experienced it. Satoru-san's personality is carefully curated, but Megumi is privy to it all.

Himatsu-san lowers her eyes, "...Yes, Gojo-dono."

"We've had this discussion before about the expectations and the outcomes. Do not undermine me."

Himatsu-san bows low, "Yes, Gojo-dono, please forgive me."

Satoru-san does not acknowledge her, she suddenly smiles, angelic and full of joie de vivre. "Now, where were we?"

"...Forbidden jujutsu," Megumi supplies.

"Yes! Let's start with Ten Shadows..."

The devil is intentional and an excellent teacher.