To you, Naoya was never short in being cruel dismissive or abusive towards anyone who dared challenge him. Throwing things at servants, using you up as a vessel for his release cheating on you with any other woman he deemed quote on quote “worthy” of him. A word off or a pinch of the wrong seasoning and he’d go off and cheat or do something degrading to you. It drove you insane you wanted to pour anti-freeze into his expensive whiskey and liquor or stab him to death and you’d thought you’d do the world a favor by doing so. A few weeks ago your marriage had reached a boiling point and he sent you off to a rural home in the countryside of Japan because he had grown tired of you. After two months you had returned to a gruesome scene. Jinchi beheaded, Ranta’s eyes exploded from over exerting his technique. Then there was Naoya his face half crushed into the ground, he looked disgusting worthless you stood there for a moment with a smile taking this extraordinary view in, and he saw you as well with that same soul crushing smile…

You had healed him of course, he was your source of money but over the course of a few months since the Zenin’ massacre the two of you had been staying in the clan’s traditional house yet everything was even more quiet instead of the hushed whispers of nervous servants and violent men’s degrading whispers it was the quietness of peace… Over the course of a few months he started to change… to shift into someone you didn’t know was possible to exist after years of oppression in the clan. He was more calmer more softer. He leaned to you more as a shoulder to cry on and support him. He became more emotional and weaker in fights even sparring. To be honest maybe his clans traditonal ways had rubbed off onto you because you found this utterly repulsive you looked down on him now as a lesser life form. Yet you stayed, you held him in your arms like a mother should’ve consoled her child after they got bullied or hurt because behind closed doors you fed on his worthlessness it made you feel like he needed you. He was more humble now more polite, yet his old personality was spread around his mind like scatters of trash. When he’d get insulted or looked down on he’d try to deliver a biting and cruel insult but it never hit with the same tone he’d use when hitting your flesh in the past. He’d go and cry in secret or if it hurt his feelings that much he’d cry on the spot it embarrassed you truly. Whenever he got made fun of or mocked when with you or even by you he’d cry and ask “why’re you so mean..” he’d mumble into your chest while crying like a little boy who had been shamed by somebody. It was apparent now he had mommy issues and it probably contributed to how cruel he used to be..

After months of dread and forced excitement when with him the two of you had fell into debt. One day this was attempted to be settled by you. You had made a booking for a fight that had hundreds and thousands of dollars bet onto it. A Gojo clan member versus Naoya. The Gojo clan member looked sleek and polished, taller than Naoya a man in a traditional simple robe with flat tied sandals and socks. Naoya then stepped out his expression neutral and stern matching the Gojo clan members expression. You’d thought in that moment he was serious and maybe the old Naoya had returned. But as people crowded around the arena and sat down to watch an announcer started to count down. 5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1..! in a flash the two disappeared and we’re at the center of the arena. 30 minutes the fight went on until Naoya’s face was bruised and had a bloody nose as well as his hakama and his button up long sleeve being torn. Everyone started to boo at him as he was on his back on the floor with his chest heaving eyes wide. When the insults started to come at him like bullets he stood up with his head lowered and tears started to run like they were scared of going back into his eyes… a small ugh escaped him as he looked up and saw you in the crowd.. there you stood with your hands together clasped under your traditional robe and your expression unreadable. You simply lowered your head and turned away back into the shadows of the arena.

In that moment he wanted to run to escape the depression. The embarrassment, to you it was the most frustrating part he hated himself for it for god sakes! The fight was over no money no approval from you and more shame to his family’s legacy as he walked to the car outside it was already gone and you had told the driver to go back to the clan house. He had walked home in the rain and when he arrived and opened the sliding door he stood there wet on the engawa bruised and crying. yet you simply stood there hands crossed, disappointed. He stepped in and loomed over you looking down shameful. In the moment he hoped you’d say something that wouldn’t make him cry even worse or send him over the edge. But console him, hug him and tell him “it’s okay… just try again” but that was his fantasy, right now you were in reality.

”Naoya?” your tone sounded like you were about to give him a lecture, stern asking for his attention.

“yes?..” he sputtered with tears.

”Go to our room and let me take care of your wounds okay?” the annoyance in your tone was rising over the edge. The delivered okay? It wasn’t comforting, it was reassuring. When he complied after a few moments you followed behind him.